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Bone marrow transplants for Stage IV?

Page last modified on: November 20, 2008
Question from Rick84: My wife has Stage IV breast cancer and has completed three months of chemo, Taxol, and Avastin. Her doctor has suggested a bone marrow transplant from her brother, who is a match. How successful could this bone marrow transplant be?
Answer —Jennifer Griggs, M.D., M.P.H.: The use of bone marrow transplants for patients with Stage IV breast cancer has been studied, and has, up to this point, not been shown to be better than standard chemotherapy such as your wife is receiving. (Taxol and Avastin is an example of a novel combination of treatments that we've studied in rigorously controlled clinical trials with proven benefits.) There are no studies supporting the use of a bone marrow transplant with bone marrow from another person, such as a sibling, in breast cancer. Given that this is such an unconventional and untested form of treatment, you should consider a second opinion, maybe at a major medical center.

On Wednesday, December 20, 2006, our Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called Updates from the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium 2006. Jennifer Griggs, M.D., M.P.H. and moderator Marisa Weiss, M.D. answered your questions about the newest research on breast cancer treatment, side effects, risk of recurrence, and more.

The materials presented in these conferences do not necessarily reflect the views of breastcancer.org. A qualified healthcare professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product or regimen discussed. All readers should verify all information and data before employing any therapies described here.

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Meet the Experts

Jennifer Griggs, M.D., M.P.H.Jennifer Griggs, M.D., M.P.H. is a medical oncologist specializing in the treatment of breast cancer, with a a special interest in cancer survivorship, patient-physician communication, and quality of care for women with breast cancer.

Marisa Weiss, M.D. is a radiation oncologist specializing in breast cancer and the founder, president, and guiding force behind Breastcancer.org.

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