A new Radiation Therapy for breast Cancer appears to be as effective as traditional radiation therapies for breast cancer patients. The new therapy uses higher doses of radiation in fewer sessions.
The British researchers conducting the study say that although the single doses of radiation are higher, over time the patient actually receives less radiation because of the fewer radiation sessions. The researchers have found that the treatment outcomes for the patients who have had these high doses of radiation are the same or better than radiation treatment lasting a longer period of time.
The study has followed the example of previous trials that have already shown doctors the outcomes of fewer treatment sessions with higher doses. Previous studies in the United States have found similar findings as this new British study.
A standard radiation schedule for breast cancer is twenty-five small daily doses of radiation. This approach reduces the risk of recurrence by seventy percent, but takes a lot of time for the patient. The new study finds that a shorter schedule with higher doses not only benefits the patient’s overall outcome, but their well being because they have to see the doctor less and go through less treatment.
The study used a five year follow up to conduct the survey of how the higher doses worked on breast cancer patients. The findings were that
Tumor reoccurrence in the patient was equal to those who went through standard treatment. Another up side of the study showed that those who took the higher doses had fewer adverse effects than those who took the lower doses of radiation.
A second trial used a six year follow up time and the rate of recurrence in these patients were around 2 percent for the smaller doses and 3 percent for those who used conventional treatment.
This is a great breakthrough in the world of cancer treatment. Many people who have to go through radiation therapy would like to get it done as quickly as possible in order to move on with their lives.
