Just as no two cancers are the same, treatments are not one-size-fits-all. For an Arizona mother and teacher, personalized chemotherapy was the path to survival.
Tammy Morrow, 55, had been healthy for decades, but in December 2023 she was blindsided by a diagnosis of stage 4 metastatic breast cancer after going to the doctor for what she thought was a stomach problem. Ta.
The cancer had spread to her bones, lymph nodes, liver and other areas, she told Fox News Digital. It soon became clear that her illness was beyond the scope of conventional treatment.
Chemotherapy drugs may have serious and surprising side effects, study finds
“I had one round of conventional chemotherapy at the hospital,” said Moreau, who lives in Phoenix, Arizona. “With just one treatment, all my hair fell out within just eight days.”
Tammy Morrow (center) and her two sons, Gabriel and Isaac Morrow, are pictured here. “If I hadn't been treated with Envita, I wouldn't be alive right now,” she told Fox News Digital. (Derek Morrow)
“Rapid hair loss is indicative of the systemic nature and toxicity of conventional chemotherapy,” she added.
Moreau's oncologist told her she likely only had a few months to live, but she was determined to find other options.
Through her research, she discovered Envita Medical Center in Scottsdale, which offers a new cancer treatment called genetically targeted fractionated chemotherapy (GTFC).
Half of cancer deaths could have been prevented through lifestyle changes, says American Cancer Society report
“When I arrived at Envita, I wasn't taking any food by mouth and for almost three months I had to get all my nutrition through a catheter that went directly into my vein,” Morrow said. .
She began receiving GTFC treatment, which she believes is “essential for survival.”
“In just 21 weeks, my diagnosis went from terminal to normal.”
“I'm confident that if I hadn't been treated with Envita, I wouldn't be alive today,” Morrow told Fox News Digital.
“Now I'm growing up.”
Signs of breast cancer, symptoms to watch out for, and when to schedule regular checkups
Moreau's previous blood tests showed no evidence of the disease, and her most recent PET scan in May confirmed she was cancer-free.
“In just 21 weeks, my diagnosis went from terminal to normal,” she said.
make it personal
Gene-targeted fractionated chemotherapy (GTFC) is an approach to cancer treatment that personalizes chemotherapy based on a patient's genetic makeup and specific tumor biology, according to Dr. John Ortle, chief medical director at Envita Medical Center. It's a targeted approach.
A photo of Tammy Morrow and her husband Derek Morrow before their diagnosis. (Tammy Morrow)
“This method also enhances the tumor's ability to absorb chemotherapy, allowing doses to be reduced while maintaining efficacy.” '' Ertl told Fox News Digital.
GTFC is designed to more accurately administer drugs with fewer side effects, he noted.
New report reveals rapid rise in breast cancer diagnoses among women under 50
“Traditional chemotherapy targets all rapidly dividing cells, including both cancerous and healthy cells, at high doses and often causes a wide range of side effects,” Ertl said.
“We also found that 90% of patients receiving conventional chemotherapy have cancer that has already developed resistance to chemotherapy.”
Moreau had been healthy for decades, but in December 2023 she was blindsided by a diagnosis of stage 4 metastatic breast cancer after visiting a doctor for what she thought was a stomach problem. (Tammy Morrow)
GTFC is designed to specifically target cancer cells with genetic mutations, allowing more chemotherapy to penetrate tumors, he said.
“With conventional chemotherapy administered intravenously, typically only 5 to 7% reaches the tumor, but GTFC significantly improves this uptake,” Oertle said.
“As a result, we can reduce overall dosage and administer treatments more frequently.”
“These particular treatments not only produce better results, but they also cause less harm.”
Fox News Medical Contributor Dr. Nicole SafierAlthough unrelated to Envita, he called GTFC “the future of cancer treatment.”
“Historically, we relied on traditional chemotherapy to kill cancer cells,” she told FOX News Digital.
“Unfortunately, traditional chemotherapy is not very specific, so while it kills cancer cells, it also kills healthy cells.”
During cancer treatment, Morrow started losing her hair, so she asked a friend to give her a haircut. (Tammy Morrow)
Because of this limitation, conventional chemotherapy can have “severe” short- and long-term side effects, Safia acknowledged.
“GTFC is a targeted therapy, a type of cancer treatment designed to attack cancer cells while leaving healthy cells behind,” she continued.
“These particular treatments not only produce better results, but they also cause less harm.”
These 17 types of cancer are more common in Gen X and Millennials, study says, 'alarming trend'
While GTFC does have some potential side effects, they are “significantly less” than traditional chemotherapy, Autoll said.
“Many patients are even able to keep their hair,” he added.
Moreau, who goes to the gym here with some fitness friends, was an avid health enthusiast before her diagnosis. (Tammy Morrow)
In Morrow's case, side effects were “minimal” even after receiving GTFC chemotherapy once or twice weekly for 21 weeks, she said.
Her main side effects were weakness and digestive problems that lasted one to two days after treatment.
When chemotherapy and radiotherapy fail, a new cancer treatment brings new hope: 'A big change in people's lives'
“I was able to work full time during my treatment,” she said. “I even attended several work meetings virtually while undergoing chemotherapy.”
Who can win GTFC?
In addition to breast cancer, Oertle says GTFC could be an option for any type of cancer that requires systemic therapy.
“For early stage cancers, we use advanced blood tests to make sure the disease has not spread,” he said.
“I pray that one day I will have the money to help others receive care at Envita,” Morrow said. (Tammy Morrow)
“If the cancer remains localized, we offer other precision-based, minimally invasive treatments that may eliminate the need for GTFC, but for cancers that have spread beyond the initial tumor. , GTFC may be an effective treatment option.”
“Most people can't afford this type of medical care.”
However, there are some barriers to receiving this type of chemotherapy.
“No insurance company in the United States covers the advanced, targeted, integrated care that Envita provides, so it's very difficult to get this care,” Morrow told Fox News Digital.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“Although the chemotherapy drugs I received with Envita are part of normal medical protocols, the way these chemotherapy drugs are administered is unusual; insurance company refused to cover it at all. ”
Although GTFC has some potential side effects, experts said they are “significantly fewer” than traditional chemotherapy. (St. Petersburg)
Morrow paid nearly $250,000 out of pocket for chemotherapy.
“Most people can't afford this kind of medical expense, and I couldn't afford it either,” she said.
Click here to sign up for our health newsletter
To cover the costs, Morrow's two sons started a GoFundMe and raised about $120,000, and Morrow and her husband took out a second mortgage to cover the rest.
“I encourage people not to let cost stand in the way of this innovative and life-saving approach to cancer treatment,” Morrow said.
In addition to breast cancer, GTFC can be an option for any type of cancer that requires systemic therapy. (St. Petersburg)
“I hope that one day I will have the money to help others get treatment at Envita. In the meantime, my husband and I have two guest bedrooms and we are moving out of town. We are waiting to fill up with patients.”
Envita's website contains the following disclaimer:
For more health articles, visit: www.foxnews.com/health
“Disclaimer: Results vary by individual. Envita does not guarantee results. Each patient's case is different. Please consult your doctor before changing your treatment. Not all patients will be eligible for treatment. These results may not be obtained in all cases and may not be approved by the FDA to treat this condition.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the FDA for comment.
