When Diana Padron was diagnosed with stage one breast cancer in 2023, her thoughts raced — not just about her health, but about how treatment might change her life. Living in a small town in New York’s North Country, she worried about the visible effects of chemotherapy, especially hair loss. 

“I didn’t want to lose my hair and have to constantly answer questions,” Padron says. 

Thanks to an innovative national clinical trial at University of Vermont Health – UVM Cancer Center, Padron found a different path — one that may help many women like her move forward with fewer side effects and less disruption to their lives. 

Rethinking the Role of Chemotherapy 

The OFSET trial — short for Ovarian Function Suppression Evaluation of Therapy — is exploring whether chemotherapy can be safely skipped for certain premenopausal women with the most common type of early-stage breast cancer. Instead, the trial uses ovarian suppression and hormone therapy to treat the disease, potentially sparing patients from the fatigue, neuropathy and emotional toll that often accompany chemotherapy. 

“Chemotherapy is a powerful tool, but it comes with risks we take seriously,” says Kara Landry, MD, lead investigator for the trial at UVM Cancer Center. “Hopefully this will help young women move forward with fewer complications and a smoother recovery.” 

Local Access, Life-Changing Impact 

UVM Cancer Center is the only site in the region offering the OFSET trial, providing essential access for patients in northern Vermont and New York’s North Country. For Padron, that proximity made all the difference. 

“My husband came to every appointment,” she says. “He couldn’t do that if it was in Boston.” 

She credits her care team, especially Shlomit Ein-Gal, MD, the hematologist and oncologist who oversaw her treatment, with making her feel supported and heard throughout. 

“Amazing care every step of the way,” Padron says. “Constant communication, always feeling heard and cared for. I never felt like I was just another patient.” 

A Trial Designed for Younger Women 

Breast cancer affects one in eight women, but younger, premenopausal patients have long been underrepresented in clinical research. OFSET is one of the first national studies focused specifically on their needs — including fertility concerns and the potential for more aggressive disease. 

The trial targets the most common breast cancer subtype: estrogen-driven, HER2-negative tumors. Participants must also have a low or intermediate risk of recurrence, determined through specialized lab testing. 

Researchers are asking a critical question: Are younger women benefiting directly from chemotherapy, or is the benefit coming from the ovarian suppression it causes? If suppression alone is enough, many patients could avoid chemotherapy altogether. 

Ovarian suppression is delivered through injections or surgery and paired with hormone therapy lasting five to 10 years. Though the treatment is longer, many patients find it more manageable than chemotherapy. 

“It can take a lot out of you,” Padron says. “For someone who wants to have kids, this seems like an easier option with less toll on the body.” 

Looking Ahead 

Despite having no family history of breast cancer, Padron saw her diagnosis as an opportunity to help others. 

“If this can help people in the future,” she says, “why not try?” 

The OFSET trial is still underway, but its potential to reshape treatment for younger women is already clear. For Padron and others, it offers something powerful — hope, choice and a gentler way forward.