Posted on 08/17/2023 12:59:04 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
Some women with early-stage, low-risk breast cancer may not need radiotherapy after breast-conserving surgery, according to research.
The research shows that women 55 or older with a specific subtype of Stage 1 breast cancer can be effectively treated with just surgery and endocrine therapy.
Women with early breast cancer who have breast-conserving surgery typically receive radiation to the breast daily for several weeks to reduce the risk of cancer returning in the breast. However, radiation can be associated with both short-term and long-term side effects.
The subtype of breast cancer that researchers focused on—luminal A—represents up to 60% of all breast cancers diagnosed annually and is associated with a lower risk of recurrence.
"This is a major advance in our treatment approach for breast cancer. With a better understanding of the molecular biology of breast cancer we can now identify women who do not need radiation," said Tim Whelan
The study followed 500 women who were 55 years of age or older, had undergone breast-conserving surgery, and whose tumors were smaller than two centimeters without cancer in the lymph nodes under the arm. The growth rate of a woman's tumor was assessed with a simple, low-cost version of a molecular test called Ki67, which provided a quantitative measure that the participant's cancer was low-risk.
In the trial, the luminal A sub-type was determined by a low reading on the Ki67 test plus the tumor having both estrogen and progesterone receptors. When planning the study, the investigators predicted that the risk of developing recurrence in the breast would be very low at five years.
At five years post-surgery, researchers found the recurrence of cancer in the breast was only 2.3% without radiotherapy. This was roughly comparable with a 1.9% risk of developing a new breast cancer in the other untreated breast.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
In 2014 I had a single mastectomy. No chemo or radiation. The tumor was so small (can’t recall size; I never fixated on it) that doctors, nurses, etc., suggested just a lumpectomy. I’d heard tales about lumpectomies not “doing the job”, so opted for mastectomy. (Wish Doc would’ve done a double, but he wouldn’t. Hate being lop-sided.)
They might want to google Asparagus and Cancer.
2016 stage 1 tumor, which implies partly the small tumor and no lymph node invasion.
I had the lump lymphectomy, and then radiation, then Tamoxifen (which I’m stopping this month).
Exactly 5 years later I got stage 0 DCIS in my other side, but nothing besides the lumpectomy.
(There are lots of variables in there so don’t really draw conclusions.)
I cannot say the radiation did anything negative. Mostly it was just annoying having to wear the tags carefully for 2 months and going every day for a month.
But yes, sure, I’d like not to have to do it.
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