Categories: Uncategorized

Radiotherapy not always required for early-stage breast cancer: Research

According to McMaster University researcher Timothy Whelan and his team, older women with early-stage breast cancer may not require radiation following surgery.

Whelan stated that people aged 55 and over with stage one breast cancer who have a particular biomarker pattern distinguishing the luminal Only surgery and endocrine treatment can adequately treat a subtype. On June 7, he presented data at the annual conference of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Chicago.

His study team, in collaboration with the Ontario Clinical Oncology Group at Hamilton Health Sciences, followed 501 patients with luminal A breast cancer for five years after surgery and discovered that the risk of cancer recurrence in the breast was just 2.3% without radiation. This was essentially equal to the patient sample’s 1.9 percent probability of acquiring new breast cancer in their other untreated breast.

Whelan said at this time patients with early-stage breast cancer typically undergo radiotherapy courses of three to five weeks to reduce the risk of their cancer recurring.

“These findings are exciting because we have identified a certain group of patients who can avoid radiotherapy and its associated side effects and potentially change for the better medical practice around the treatment of breast cancer,” said Whelan, a professor in the Department of Oncology at McMaster, a Canada Research Chair in Breast Cancer Research and a radiation oncologist for Hamilton Health Sciences.

Also Read: Possible breast cancer treatment revealed in study

“Radiotherapy has significant early side effects, including fatigue and skin irritation that can last for several weeks after the course is completed, and late side effects such as breast shrinkage and distortion that can affect the quality of life and very rarely more serious complications such as heart disease and second cancers,” he said.

“If we can avoid radiotherapy, so much the better. Not all cancers require the same level of often-invasive treatment. There is a very low-risk group of breast cancers displaying the luminal A biomarker and they are not particularly aggressive.”

He claims that thanks to routine mammography screening, superior surgical procedures, and better systemic therapies, the overall risk of cancer recurrence following breast-conserving surgery has dropped in recent years.

Whelan’s study is currently following patients with the luminal A form of breast cancer for ten years to learn more about treatment effectiveness without radiation.

Follow Medically Speaking on Instagram

Medically Speaking Team

Recent Posts

Video: How Hard Water Leads to Hair Fall and Expert Tips to Combat It

Hard Water (Khara Pani) Leading To Hair Fall Hard water is rich in minerals and…

58 mins ago

“How High Blood Pressure During Pregnancy Is Rising: What Every Expectant Mother Should Know”

Discover how the rise in high blood pressure during pregnancy is impacting maternal and fetal…

1 hour ago

“Revitalize Your Weight Loss Journey: 6 Powerful Homemade Drinks to Naturally Melt Away Fat!”

"Discover the transformative power of six delicious homemade drinks that can help you naturally melt…

1 hour ago

“Revitalize Your Weight Loss Journey: 8 Powerful Fat-Flushing Drinks to Boost Your Results!”

"Transform your weight loss routine with these eight delicious fat-flushing drinks that not only hydrate…

1 hour ago

“Are You Overdoing It? 13 Warning Signs You’re Consuming Too Much Sugar”

"Is your sweet tooth taking a toll on your health? Discover the key signs that…

2 hours ago

“7 Common White Foods to Avoid for a Healthier, Happier Life”

"These everyday white foods may seem harmless but can harm your health over time. Discover…

2 hours ago