For many older breast cancer patients, study finds radiation doesn’t affect survival
Radiation has long been a mainstay of breast cancer treatment, and following surgery up with the therapy can reduce the risk of recurrence. The drawback of radiation, though, is a fistful of unpleasant potential side effects including pain, a slight risk of organ damage, a very small risk of secondary cancer, and the time and money needed for the procedures. Now the results of a Phase 3 trial suggests that many older patients may not need radiation and can go without it after surgery without harming their overall survival.
“It’s remained controversial for a number of years,” said Ian Kunkler, a clinical oncologist at the University of Edinburgh and the lead author on the study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine. “There was particular interest as to whether that might be omitted in older patients. There is a nonspecific fatigue that most patients encounter during radiotherapy and sometimes for several weeks afterwards, and that can be particularly burdensome to older patients, particularly if they have other comorbidities.”
Information Courtesy By: Angus Chen, #HealthcareNews #Healthcare | Feeds
Radiation has long been a mainstay of breast cancer treatment, and following surgery up with the therapy can reduce the risk of recurrence. The drawback of radiation, though, is a fistful of unpleasant potential side effects including pain, a slight risk of organ damage, a very small risk of secondary cancer, and the time and money needed for the procedures. Now the results of a Phase 3 trial suggests that many older patients may not need radiation and can go without it after surgery without harming their overall survival.
“It’s remained controversial for a number of years,” said Ian Kunkler, a clinical oncologist at the University of Edinburgh and the lead author on the study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine. “There was particular interest as to whether that might be omitted in older patients. There is a nonspecific fatigue that most patients encounter during radiotherapy and sometimes for several weeks afterwards, and that can be particularly burdensome to older patients, particularly if they have other comorbidities.”
Click For More Details
2023-02-16 03:30
Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Healthcare Central is published from a syndicated feed.