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Study on Radiotherapy After Breast Cancer Surgery
Context:
Providing radiotherapy after surgery can prevent breast cancer from returning in the same place for up to 10 years, but this protective effect diminishes after a decade, with recurrence risk becoming similar to that in those who did not receive radiotherapy.
Findings of the Study:
- After 10 years, 16% of those who had radiotherapy experienced cancer recurrence in the same location.
- In comparison, 36% of those who did not receive radiotherapy experienced recurrence in the same location.
- Fewer deaths from breast cancer were observed in the radiotherapy group (37% vs. 46%).
- However, there were more deaths from other cancers in the radiotherapy group (20% vs. 11%).
- Survival rates do not show a significant improvement with radiotherapy, highlighting that while it reduces local recurrence, it does not necessarily enhance overall survival.
About Radiation therapy:
- Radiation therapy, or radiotherapy, is a type of cancer treatment in which specialists kill cancerous cells in the body by exposing them to ionising radiation, such as X-rays, gamma rays, high-energy electrons or heavy particles.
- Radiation therapy can be administered externally or internally.
- Radiation therapy works by damaging cells by destroying their genetic material, which controls growth and division.
- The aim is to treat the cancer while minimising harm to healthy cells.
- Surgery followed by radiotherapy remains the standard care for women with early-stage breast cancer.
Breast Cancer:
- Breast cancer occurs when breast cells mutate and become cancerous, multiplying to form tumours.
- It primarily affects women and people assigned female at birth (AFAB) aged 50 and older, also impact younger women.
- It can also impact men, people assigned male at birth (AMAB).
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What is Molecular breast imaging (MBI):
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