Study: Radiotherapy in Young Breast Cancer Patients

Research has found that younger women with children are more likely to skip radiotherapy after breast conserving surgery in spite of the fact that they tend to experience more severe tumors with higher risk to reoccur.

Read to find out more.





Researchers from Chicago and Texas studied clinical and prescription databases of more than 20,000 patients of all ages and family structures between 2004 and 2009. They compared their likelihood of undergoing radiotherapy.  

The researchers found "age to be the most important predictor of treatment history for breast cancer, more so than even differences in health insurance. Women under age 50 were less likely than others to receive the treatment, with the biggest gap in women with children less than seven-years-old". 

They concluded that as radiotherapy after surgery is one indicator of quality treatment, "improving overall quality of BC care could improve RT compliance, but that "additional work is needed to … develop robust interventions tailored to the unique needs of younger cancer patients." 

They also concluded that "childbearing responsibilities inhibit adherence to breast cancer treatment.

It is worth noting that in 2010 more than 200,000 cases of breast cancer were diagnosed with 41,000 deaths.


Source:
Medical Daily: http://www.medicaldaily.com/younger-women-less-likely-receive-radiotherapy-after-breast-cancer-surgery-mothers-most-prone-265796