Hope for breast cancer patients.....From pigs?

Women who have lost one or both breast to cancer may start to see light at the end of the tunnel. In Australia, Professor Wayne Morrison, is experimenting with pigs to grow breasts in hopes to introduce it to woman who have had breast cancer. For the past two years Professor Morrison, working with a team at the Bernard O’Brien Institute in Melbourn, has successfully grown breasts on pigs by inducing the animals’ own fat cells to reproduce into molded chambers that are implanted under the skin on their chests. These chambers are then sown with a piece of fat no bigger than the size of two adult fingers, which is taken from the patient’s own body. A blood vessel is then looped through the fat, allowing it to recruit more fat cells until the chamber is filled. After six to eight months the chambers are removed leaving perfectly formed, functioning breasts, with their own blood supply. However, the process could take longer in humans than in pigs because humans stop growing at adolescence. The professor stated that if this works then this method could be used to contour any defect, rather it is the breast, a congenital deformity or trauma where someone has lost chunks of themselves. After three years of trial, if successful, this could be used in breast cancer patients. However, it could take a decade for it to be ready for cosmetic purposes. This institute is also responsible for growing working heart tissue.

I read this story and I was astounded. It is amazing how far the medical industry is coming. I have never experienced breast cancer and thankfully know one in my family has either. But I think it is awesome. I read some of the reviews on this story, and there were several commits about the fact that the testing is done on pigs. I believe animal cruelty is wrong, however, I know that a lot of the medicine and medical procedures were first performed on animals to perfect them for human use. The pigs they are experimenting with, I believe, aren’t going through any more pain and suffering than a breast cancer patient has to endure. I just think this is amazing. Hopefully, this is able to be performed on humans, if and when I get breast cancer. I worked in nursing homes where some women after a mastectomy just lost all will to live. It made them feel less of a woman. Even though they weren’t they always told me that is how they felt, as well as they did not feel attractive any longer. So I think any thing to improve the quality of life is good.