Breast cancer survivors experience inflammation after chemotherapy

After the course of the treatment, many breast cancer survivors feel fatigue and other devastating symptoms which continue for months and even years. But now this is ended. The researchers at the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University have found certain hints which explains the way these symptoms can be stayed behind. The Chemotherapy, which is one of the major treatments to treat breast cancer leaves a long lasting epigenetic imprint in the DNA of breast cancer patient’s blood cells. And that imprint is connected with biological symbols of inflammation till 6 months, after finishing of the treatment. It is believed that inflammation in turn causes fatigue. It is said by Mylin Torres, MD, assistant professor of radiation oncology at Emory University School of Medicine and Winship Cancer Institute that, “Chemotherapy is a life saving intervention, but for some women, it comes at a cost.” To find out the main reason and biology behind the persistent cancer related inflammation, Torres made a team with Andrew Miller, MD. Professor of psychiatry and Behavioral sciences and director of Psychiatric Oncology at Winship Cancer Institute.