Provenge Gets Even Closer to the Market

Here's how it works.

Doctors remove patients' own white blood cells, treat them so they respond aggressively to cancerous tumors, then put the treated cells back into the patients' blood.

The treated white blood cells then look for and destroy cancer cells, Dr. Richard Besser,ABC News' senior health and medical editor, said today on "Good Morning America."

Other cells would remain untouched.

Although this represents a major shift in the fight against cancer, the mainstays of cancer treatment remain the same: surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. Besser said Provenge wouldn't be a cure, nor would it replace traditional treatments. But it would be another option, he said.

The worst side effects experienced by trial participants so far have been a few fevers and chills -- easily treated with over-the-counter medications.

Have a good Monday.
Blessings,
Rick