Following a lumpectomy for breast cancer, radiotherapy to the breast reduces the risk of eventually dying from the disease – according to research published in today’s (Friday 16 December 2005) The Lancet*.
An international team of researchers found that a woman’s five-year risk of the cancer returning in or near the breast after a lumpectomy dropped from 26 percent to seven percent if she also received radiotherapy, and the 15-year risk of dying from the disease dropped from 36 percent to 31 percent.
They carried out a worldwide overview of trials of radiotherapy and of different types of surgery, involving 40,000 women with early breast cancer, and found that for every four breast cancer recurrences avoided by radiotherapy, one death is prevented.
The findings from this Cancer Research UK and Medical Research Council funded study will help doctors and patients decide on the most appropriate treatment.
Present UK guidelines on improving outcomes in breast cancer already state that radiotherapy should be regarded as standard treatment after a lumpectomy. But, as with any procedure, the treatment given depends on discussions between doctors and patients about the benefits and side effects, and may, in a minority of cases, result in non-standard treatment being offered.
The study also shows similar benefits from radiotherapy for women who had their entire breast removed but whose cancer had already spread to the armpit. The chances of the cancer coming back in or near the breast or armpit dropped from 23 percent to six percent, and the risk of dying from breast cancer dropped from 60 percent to 55 percent.
However, for women who had a breast removed, but whose cancer had not spread to the armpit, radiotherapy was found not to be appropriate; any benefits were slight and were outweighed by the side effects of radiotherapy. These can include permanent swelling of the arm, permanent limitation of shoulder movement and, occasionally, life-threatening diseases such as heart attack or a new cancer in the lung or opposite breast.
One of the organisers of the collaboration, Cancer Research UK epidemiologist Professor Sir Richard Peto from the University of Oxford, said: “This study provides the first really definite evidence that, for women who’ve had breast-conserving surgery and for women whose cancer has spread to the armpit, radiotherapy reduces the long-term risk of dying from the disease. The improvement is small but definite and it adds to the improvements in long-term survival produced by chemotherapy and hormone therapy.”
Dr Lesley Walker, Cancer Research UK’s director of science information, said: “The findings from this study will help doctors and patients with the information they need to weigh up the side effects and benefits when discussing the most appropriate treatment options.”
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*Early Breast Cancer Trialists’ Collaborative Group (EBCTCG). Effects of radiotherapy and of differences in the extent of surgery for early breast cancer on local recurrence and 15-year survival: an overview of the randomised trials. The Lancet 2005; 366; 2087-2106.
For background, see also: EBCTCG. Effects of chemotherapy and hormonal therapy for early breast cancer on recurrence and 15-year survival: an overview of the randomised trials. The Lancet 2005; 365: 1687-1717.
The women in these studies were diagnosed with breast cancer in the last few decades of the previous century.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer for women in this country. Each year, there are over 41,000 new cases in the UK. This cancer accounts for almost one in three of all cancer cases in women. It is the third most common cause of cancer death, accounting for around 12,600 deaths in the UK each year. Breast cancer can occur in men, but is rare.
Cancer Research UK
- Cancer Research UK’s vision is to conquer cancer through world-class research.
- The charity works alone and in partnership with others to carry out research into the biology and causes of cancer, to develop effective treatments, improve the quality of life for cancer patients, reduce the number of people getting cancer and to provide authoritative information on cancer. Cancer Research UK is the world’s leading independent charity dedicated to research on the causes, treatment and prevention of cancer.
- For further information about Cancer Research UK’s work or to find out how to support the charity, please call 020 7009 8820.
- For further information about Reduce the Risk please visit our Reduce the Risk website.
- For more information about different types of cancer, diagnosis and treatment for patients and their families, visit Cancer Research UK’s patient information website CancerHelp UK.
The Medical Research Council (MRC) is a national organisation funded by the UK tax-payer. Its business is medical research aimed at improving human health; everyone stands to benefit from the outputs. The research it supports and the scientists it trains meet the needs of the health services, the pharmaceutical and other health-related industries and the academic world. MRC has funded work which has led to some of the most significant discoveries and achievements in medicine in the UK. About half of the MRC’s expenditure of approximately £500 million is invested in its 40 Institutes, Units and Centres. The remaining half goes in the form of grant support and training awards to individuals and teams in universities and medical schools. Visit the Medical Research Council (MRC) website for more information.
