Publishing her findings proved to be a significant challenge due to ethical concerns surrounding self-experimentation.

A scientist successfully treated her own Stage 3 breast cancer by injecting the tumor with viruses she grew in her lab. The unique case is described in a controversial report published in August in the journal Vaccines.

Dr. Beata Halassy, a 49-year-old virologist, self-treated her recurrent breast cancer with OVT, a method that leverages viruses to target and shrink tumors.

Virologist Beata Halassy says self-treatment worked and was a positive experience — but researchers warn that it is not something others should try.

Using viruses in what’s called oncolytic virotherapy (OVT), virologist Beata Halassy reworked two viruses to successfully treat her stage-three breast cancer

University of Zagreb researcher Beata Halassy treated her breast cancer with an unproven virus-based therapy using viruses she cultivated in her own lab.

There is a legitimate concern that unregulated forms of self-experimentation may not involve this important safeguard when members of the public experiment on themselves. Informed consent is not the only important safeguard in research ethics.