02/25/2025
Dr. Beata Halassy, a Croatian virologist, used lab-grown viruses to treat her own recurring breast cancer - and she succeeded.
Dr. Halassy turned to oncolytic virotherapy (OVT), a cutting-edge approach where viruses are designed to attack cancer cells and trigger the immune system to respond. While OVT is approved for certain cancers like metastatic melanoma, it hadn’t been explored for breast cancer. So, she decided to take matters into her own hands, injecting a mix of lab-grown measles and vesicular stomatitis viruses directly into her tumor.
Over two months, the tumor shrank and detached from surrounding tissue, paving the way for successful surgical removal. Four years later, she remains cancer-free.
Her bold decision has sparked both awe and controversy. On one hand, her case shines a light on the untapped potential of experimental treatments that could redefine how we approach cancer. On the other, it raises ethical questions about self-experimentation and the risks involved.
Many scientific journals initially rejected her work, fearing it might encourage others to take unsafe medical risks. But in 2024, her findings were finally published, opening a conversation about innovation, ethics, and the role of personalized medicine.
Dr. Halassy’s story isn’t just about fighting cancer; it’s about challenging the boundaries of what’s possible and pushing the conversation forward.