Trial Vaccine Wipes Out Breast Cancer in Florida Patient

A Florida woman is the first patient to kill off breast cancer with the help of a promising new vaccine. Lee Mercker, from the Jacksonville area, was diagnosed with a very early-stage form of breast cancer in March. She went to the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville to start treatment, but her doctor asked if she’d like to try something else first: An experimental vaccine that aims to fight off early-stage breast cancer and prevent future occurrence. 

Knutson said Mercker’s results were, essentially, what their team had hoped the vaccine would do as it developed out, but it was happening in their very first human test subject. Mercker said she still underwent a double mastectomy to assure the breast cancer was out of her body completely, as the vaccine was just a trial. Her removed breast tissue can now be studied for further results. 

Read the full story from KTVU here.