A Jacksonville woman's decision to try an experimental vaccine may help to eliminate breast cancer one day. Lee Mercker was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer in March and went to the Mayo Clinic to begin treatment. Her doctor, instead, asked if she would rather try a vaccine that the Clinic hoped would end her breast cancer and prevent it from returning.
Mercker agreed and after a series of simple shots, her tumor was eliminated. Her doctor says that two other women are currently trying the vaccine and "I think a vaccine against breast cancer is coming in only a matter of time."
The Clinic will also soon begin trials on a vaccine that could prevent breast cancer in healthy women, too, saying it would be like "a flu shot for breast cancer."