Fewer Weeks of Radiation Optional for Early Stage Breast Cancers
September 22, 2008 by Karen Lynch
Filed under Women's Health
I just read today’s New York Times article that explained the results of a Canadian research initiative:
Three weeks of radiation treatment work just as well as the usual course of five weeks or more for women with early-stage breast cancers.
After my first diagnosis and partial mastectomy, I was treated with the very typical seven weeks of daily radiation therapy. Limiting my treatment to three weeks? Well, that certainly would have greatly reduced the number of weeks I was down and out after that go ’round.
And for some people, a shorter duration might actually be a reason to go ahead with a treatment option they might otherwise skip.
Currently, about 20 to 30 percent of women in North American who need it skip it. And some women who could have lumpectomy plus radiation choose mastectomy instead, simply to avoid radiation, because they live too far from a clinic to travel back and forth for all the treatments.
Make sure you ask your doctors about this particular study if you are currently headed into radiation therapy.
(Image: Newscom)
Don’t forget about mammosite radiation. Some women should consider that option as well. I’m surprised it’s not used more often. 5 days of radiation, two treatments a day, and then you’re done. @stales
Great addition to this post. Thanks so much!
Very helpful research information for all women to know about. I work in the medical imaging field and notice an increasing number of articles about the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer, including new information about the use of breast MRIs. Marge http://www.remakehealth.com