Peggy Fleming Promotes Breast Cancer Awareness

Skating legend and breast cancer survivor Peggy Fleming has teamed up with Atairgin Technologies to raise awareness of the need to improve early detection of breast and ovarian cancers.

A recent luncheon featuring the skating star in Irvine, California, honored the courage of cancer survivors and provided an update on the clinical progress of Atairgin's new blood test to detect breast and ovarian cancer.

"Having been successfully treated for breast cancer three years ago, I am healthy and living proof that women can survive these diseases if they get diagnosed early. Learning to recognize symptoms and getting regular exams are especially important if you're over 40 or have a family history," said Fleming.

"I applaud Atairgin's efforts to improve early detection. It would be very reassuring to know that this simple blood test could be routinely used, and hopefully, save thousands of lives every year," she said.

Researchers have found that alterations in bioactive lipids in the blood of patients having breast cancer may provide an early detection tool. The new blood test, using this platform, is being studied in a nationwide 1,600-patient ovarian cancer trial using the proprietary lipid assay panel.

A nationwide breast cancer trial is scheduled to get underway by the end of 2001 using this technology.

Other sources: Atairgin Technologies