Avoiding Radiotherapy Option for Older Women: Study Trial

Study trial presented at the 2013 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium revealed that women aged 65 and older who undertake hormone therapy after breast conserving surgery for hormone receptor-positive, axillary node-negative breast cancer might have the option of avoiding radiotherapy.

What is the significance of this study?

Read to find out.






Although radiotherapy has been well known for reducing the recurrence of breast cancer three to four times, this study has shown that in a certain subgroup pf older women the percentage of recurrence of breast cancer after breast conserving surgery and adjuvant endocrine therapy is under %5 and therefore the omission of radiotherapy is an option.

To explain the percentage, the researchers say, "What this study shows is that for every 100 women (from our selected population) treated with radiotherapy, one will have a recurrence anyway, four will have a recurrence prevented, but 95 will have had unnecessary treatment." 

What is the significance of this discovery?

Radiotherapy has its own risks especially for older people. Also, once the woman undergoes radiotherapy she will not be able to have it again on the same breast. So if she is to have recurrent breast cancer again the option of a small surgery to remove it becomes less.

So, the researchers emphasize, "Allowing us to defer radiotherapy in this group of patients until a recurrence occurs will be of benefit to the patient and to the health service."

These results might lead to the official deletion of radiotherapy treatment in the group where all the criteria apply.

Source:
Science Daily: mtl-fitness.com/

Image source:
breastcancer.org/treatment/radiation/types/ext/expect/simulation