While the drug combo did meet the first goal of increasing progression-free survival, it failed to prolong overall survivalbeyond what is normal for patients on chemotherapy without Erbitux.
Having the nonaffected breast removed will not translate into any additional survival benefit beyond what is conferred by treating the existing cancer.
Because medical devices are regulated more loosely than drugs, the ablation devices were approved without anyone's having to affirm that they slowed cancer progression or increased survival above and beyond standard treatments.
And a man diagnosed with testicular cancer that has not spread beyond nearby lymph nodes has at least a 95% chance of reaching the important five-year survival point.