Radiation therapy following surgery can keep breast cancer from returning for up to a decade About 16% of women treated with radiation had their breast cancer return, compared to 36% who didn’t get radiation However, overall average survival rates were about the same between the two groups FRIDAY, Aug. 9, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Radiation therapy following surgery can keep breast cancer from returning for up to 10 years, a new study claims. The study supports the current standard of care for , which involves surgery followed by radiation therapy, researchers said.
“Our evidence suggests that radiotherapy protects against cancer returning in the same breast for up to 10 years,” said researcher , a professor of clinical oncology with the University of Edinburgh’s Institute of Genetics and Cancer. “It supports the continued use of radiotherapy after breast-conserving surgery for most patients with early breast cancer,” Kunkler added in a university news release. For the study, researchers analyzed results for 585 Scottish women who received treatment for early-stage breast cancer.
Half received radiation therapy, and half did not. Radiation therapy uses high doses of radiation to destroy any remaining cancer cells after a tumor has been removed from the breast. After 10 years, 16% of those treated with radiation therapy had their cancer return in the same location, compared with 36% of those who didn’t receive radiation.
Overall average survival rates after 30 years were similar between the two groups – 19.2 years for those who got radiation therapy, and 18.7 for those who didn’t.
There were fewer deaths from breast cancer among those who got radiation therapy, 37% versus 46%. However, there were more deaths from other cancers in the radiation therapy group, 20% versus 11%. The study was published Aug.
7 in journal “This 30-year study marks the longest follow-up of postoperative radiotherapy in the treatment of early-stage breast cancer,” said lead researcher , with the University of Edinburgh. “Long-term studies like this, which go beyond 10 years of follow-up, are crucial to fully assess the risks and benefits of treatments.” The National Breast Cancer Foundation has more about .
SOURCE: University of Edinburgh, news release, Aug. 7, 2024 Women with early-stage breast cancer should talk with their doctor about the benefits and risks of radiation therapy..
