KCU professor: Early detection, advances in treatment improve breast cancer survival

A Joplin physician says advances in cancer treatment, early detection and genetic research are giving breast cancer patients better chances of survival than ever before, but regular screenings and healthy lifestyle choices remain critical.

Dr. Tyrone Adcock, an assistant professor at Kansas City University in Joplin, discussed breast cancer prevalence, prevention, emerging research and the potential role of artificial intelligence during an interview with Newstalk KZRG.

Adcock said about one in eight women in the United States will develop breast cancer during their lifetime. In 2026, an estimated 321,000 women and 2,600 men are expected to be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer.

He emphasized that breast cancer is not exclusively a women's disease, noting that men can also develop the condition and that male breast cancer can be particularly aggressive.

Despite those numbers, survival rates have improved substantially over the past several decades.

Adcock said the average five-year survival rate for breast cancer was approximately 75 to 76 percent in the 1970s. Today, the overall rate is closer to 92 percent, while patients whose cancer is confined to the breast have a survival rate exceeding 99 percent.

He attributed the improvement to a combination of scientific advances, including a better understanding of cancer genetics, targeted therapies, precision medicine, immunotherapy and advanced imaging technology.

Screening and early detection also play important roles in identifying cancer before it spreads, when treatment is generally more successful.

Adcock said individuals can take steps to help reduce their risk, including maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding obesity, exercising regularly and limiting alcohol consumption. He also encouraged women who are able to breastfeed to consider doing so and stressed the importance of keeping up with recommended examinations and screening schedules.

Genetics can also influence a person's risk of developing breast cancer. Adcock said inherited mutations affecting genes responsible for repairing damaged cells can increase the likelihood that abnormal cells will develop into cancer.

Mutations involving the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are among the best-known examples.

Adcock said families should be particularly attentive to patterns that could indicate an inherited cancer risk, including breast cancer diagnosed before age 50, multiple relatives with breast cancer, male breast cancer in the family, or family histories involving ovarian or colon cancer.

He noted that identifying people with elevated genetic risk can help guide decisions about screening and other preventive measures.

At KCU's Joplin campus, researchers are working on two major projects related to breast cancer.

One project examines nuclear receptors and inflammatory markers to determine whether certain biological factors may contribute to resistance to chemotherapy and more aggressive disease.

The second involves collaboration with a large oncology group that maintains a database of patients identified as having a high genetic risk of developing breast cancer. Researchers are studying other health conditions and factors, including smoking, diabetes and immune suppression, to better understand how they might affect cancer risk and patient outcomes.

Artificial intelligence is also playing a role in the research.

Adcock said researchers are using AI to analyze statistical patterns, including patterns of inheritance and specific regions of the genome that may be associated with an increased risk of breast cancer.

He said the technology could eventually help identify high-risk individuals, improve screening decisions and assist in detecting subtle abnormalities that might otherwise be difficult to recognize during routine screening.

Although AI offers promising possibilities, Adcock described it as a tool for analyzing information and identifying patterns that can support research and medical decision-making.

For people concerned about their own risk or a family history of breast cancer, Adcock recommended seeking guidance from local primary care physicians, OB-GYN providers or oncology groups.

He said those providers can offer appropriate testing and screening services. KCU's Joplin campus does not directly provide those services through its research program.

Adcock's message was that, while genetics and other risk factors may be beyond an individual's control, advances in research and treatment, combined with healthy habits and appropriate screening, can make a meaningful difference in the fight against breast cancer.