New hope for breast cancer patients
Monday November 09 2009
Radiotherapy after surgery can help some breast cancer sufferers avoid a recurrence of the disease, researchers suggested last night.
A study of 335 patients showed those with dense breast tissue benefited most from the treatment after having lumps removed.
Experts found 22pc of women not given radiotherapy suffered a relapse over a 10-year period.
The rate was more than halved -- to 10pc -- when sufferers did receive the treatment.
Although breast tissue density was of "minimal" significance when radiotherapy was given, the difference was marked when those with high-density breast tissue did not receive the treatment. Of those, 40pc suffered a relapse within 10 years.
But none of the women with low-density breast tissue developed complications after not receiving radiotherapy.
Dr Steven Narod, of the Women's College Research Institute in Toronto, said: "The composition of the breast tissue surrounding the breast cancer is important in predicting whether or not a breast cancer will return after surgery."
In the report, the authors said it was crucial to establish the cases in which radiotherapy would help.
"The findings indicate that women with low breast density, who have a low chance of recurrence after surgery, may not need radiation but that women with high breast density could significantly benefit," they said.
Previous research has shown women with dense breast tissue are at an increased risk of breast cancer.
The study is published in the December 15 issue of Cancer, a journal of the American Cancer Society.
- Mark Bulstrode
Irish Independent
