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Reducing Radiation
Breast cancer patients might not need as much radiation as they’re getting, according to a study presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting in June.
In a randomized, controlled study, European researchers compared radiation regimens of more than 4,000 postmenopausal breast cancer patients and found that after five years, fewer and lower doses of radiation were just as effective as higher doses given for longer periods of time. Patients were evaluated for changes in breast appearance, tissue effects and tumor relapse.
In the United States, radiation treatments often last for six to eight weeks, a burden that studies have shown causes some women—especially those who live far from radiation centers or have difficulty making regular appointments—to opt for mastectomies instead. If women could get by on three weeks of radiation instead of six, as was tested in the study, more women might avoid mastectomies.
Physicians in the United States also believe the findings are encouraging, but it’s too soon for any drastic changes. Many oncologists believe we won’t really know how well a shorter radiation schedule works until 10 or even 15 years have passed, says Lawrence J. Solin, M.D., professor of radiation oncology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
That said, the study might give some patients, especially those who might not otherwise be able to receive radiation, the option of a shorter course of radiation treatment.
