New epidemiology study 2008–2013 suggests that many breast cancer U.S. patients still get radiation therapy for much longer than they need to. The analysis of data, involving millions of women, found that two-thirds of breast cancer patients who had breast-conserving surgery (lumpectomy) undergo six to seven weeks of radiation therapy.
The study suggest that hypofractionated whole breast radiation – newer type of radiation therapy consisting of only three weeks of higher-dose radiation – is just as effective, more convenient, shorter and cheaper than conventional radiation therapy.
Sources and more information
- Uptake and Costs of Hypofractionated vs Conventional Whole Breast Irradiation After Breast Conserving Surgery in the United States, 2008–2013, jamanetwork, doi:10.1001/jama.2014.16616, December 10, 2014.
- Many Breast Cancer Patients Get Too Much Radiation Therapy, Research Suggests, news.health, December 10, 2014.