A long-term study has shown that providing radiotherapy after surgery can significantly reduce the risk of breast cancer returning in the same area for up to 10 years.
However, after a decade, the risk of recurrence becomes similar to that of patients who did not receive radiotherapy.
Radiotherapy remains a standard part of treatment for women with early-stage breast cancer.
This process uses high doses of radiation to destroy any remaining cancer cells in the breast after the tumor has been surgically removed.
The Scottish Breast Conservation Trial, led by the University of Edinburgh, involved 585 women treated for early-stage breast cancer in Scotland.
Half of these women received radiotherapy while the other half did not. The patients were followed for an average of 18 years, with some being monitored for over 30 years.
After 10 years, the study found that only 16% of the women who received radiotherapy experienced a return of their cancer in the same location, compared to 36% of those who did not undergo radiotherapy.
Despite this reduction in recurrence, the overall survival rates were almost the same between the two groups after 30 years—19.2 years for those who had radiotherapy and 18.7 years for those who did not.
The study also noted a difference in the causes of death between the two groups. There were fewer deaths from breast cancer among those who received radiotherapy (37%) compared to those who did not (46%).
However, there were more deaths from other types of cancer in the radiotherapy group (20%) than in the non-radiotherapy group (11%).
Experts emphasize the importance of understanding the long-term effects of radiotherapy, especially as advancements in detecting and treating early-stage breast cancer have led to longer patient lifespans.
The research, published in The Lancet Oncology, included contributions from various institutions such as the Usher Institute, the Institute of Genetics and Cancer at the University of Edinburgh, Public Health Scotland, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow, and the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh.
Dr. Linda Williams, the lead author from the Usher Institute, highlighted the significance of this 30-year study as it provides the longest follow-up of postoperative radiotherapy in early-stage breast cancer treatment. She stressed the need for long-term studies that extend beyond a decade to thoroughly evaluate the risks and benefits of treatments.
Professor Ian Kunkler from the Institute of Genetics and Cancer at the University of Edinburgh pointed out that the study supports the continued use of radiotherapy after breast-conserving surgery for most patients with early breast cancer.
He noted that while radiotherapy effectively prevents cancer recurrence in the same breast for up to 10 years, its beneficial effects diminish over time, similar to other anti-cancer treatments.
If you care about breast cancer, please read studies about how eating patterns help ward off breast cancer, and soy and plant compounds may prevent breast cancer recurrence.
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The research findings can be found in The Lancet Oncology.
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