/ Source: WNCN-TV
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- John and Elizabeth Edwards are attending a fund-raiser in California a day after announcing that her cancer has returned.
On Thursday the couple announced that Elizabeth Edwards' cancer has returned.
She was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004 during the presidential campaign.
She underwent treatment and went into remission.
But after cracking a rib about a week ago, Elizabeth Edwards went to see her doctor who then found cancer in a different rib.
Elizabeth Edwards says she will still speak in Cleveland Monday at an appearance she scheduled months ago to talk about her battle with breast cancer.
The couple says despite the cancer reoccurrence, John Edwards will continue his presidential campaign.
With advances in medicine, Elizabeth Edwards and others like her can live longer and better lives than ever before.
NBC17 took an in-depth look at a new breast cancer treatment being tested at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Deep inside UNC's Lineberger Cancer Center, a researcher tests a vaccine that could help keep women and men alive by boosting the body's ability to fight breast cancer.
"This is designed to enhance the body's ability to kill cancer at the same time as other modalities such as chemotherapy," said Dr. John Serody of the cancer center.
Serody and his team have seen their vaccine work in certain patients by actually wiping out cancer cells. However, the vaccine may be years away from public use.
Elizabeth Edwards' announcement about her disease was very composed and positive.
Unfortunately, perhaps because she's been through it before, it gave Serody the latest reminder of his purpose.
"I think it gives you some impetus to come back and work the weekends, work the nights, try to see what you can do to make a difference," Serody said.
Edwards' announcement came just days after UNC football coach Butch Davis revealed he had oral lymphoma. It may be fitting that UNC is working on some of the most exciting cancer treatments through nanotechnology.
Drugs laced with a molecular guidance system could go directly to a tumor and ignore the rest of the body with no baldness and no nausea.
"Nanoparticles have this capability because they can be delivered directly to the tumor site," said Dr. Piotr Grodzinski of National Cancer Institute. "Because of this, the dose of the drug can be reduced but the effectiveness can be maintained.
It's a lot of scientific work for a goal that everyone can understand - stopping a terrible disease.