For many women with early breast cancer, surgery such as mastectomy or lumpectomy can be life-saving.
However, it can also be life-changing in ways that are hard to accept. Some women, especially older adults or those with other health problems, may not be able or willing to go through surgery. Now, there may be another option that works just as well—without the need for surgery.
A new five-year study from the National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST) in Japan offers hope. The study looked at a special kind of radiation treatment called carbon-ion radiotherapy.
This treatment targets cancer with great accuracy and strength, using high-energy particles. According to the research, this therapy may offer long-term cancer control with very few side effects and may even help women avoid surgery.
The study followed twelve women, all aged 60 or older, who had early-stage breast cancer. These women had small tumors, less than 2 cm wide, and their cancer was the type that grows more slowly and responds to hormone treatment.
They all received carbon-ion therapy over one week and then took hormone-blocking medication for at least five years afterward.
Over the five years, the results were very promising. The cancer was kept under control in 92% of the women. None of the women died during the study, and there were no serious side effects. Most women had only mild skin reactions that went away.
Only one woman had the cancer return in the same spot, and that case later required surgery. All others had excellent cosmetic results, with their breasts looking nearly unchanged.
The reason this treatment works so well is because of something called the Bragg peak. This means the radiation from carbon ions can be focused tightly on the tumor, avoiding damage to nearby healthy tissue. This is different from regular radiation, which can affect more of the surrounding area and cause more side effects.
The lead doctors involved in the study said that this treatment could be a big step forward. Dr. Noriyuki Okonogi said that in selected patients with the right type of breast cancer, they saw complete tumor disappearance in all cases, without much burden from treatment.
Dr. Kumiko Karasawa added that keeping the breast intact and avoiding serious side effects is very important for patients’ daily life and emotional well-being. Dr. Kazutoshi Murata noted that this kind of radiation therapy could become an important choice for women who want to stay safe from cancer but also avoid the stress and changes that come with surgery.
This treatment may not be right for everyone. The study showed that one tumor with a high Ki-67 score, which means it was more aggressive, came back. So doctors still need to carefully choose who might benefit the most from this approach.
This study is especially important because it shows how advanced radiation can give results just as good as surgery, but with fewer side effects and better quality of life. Compared to older types of radiation, carbon-ion therapy caused fewer skin problems while still controlling the cancer well.
The researchers are now calling for more studies with larger groups of people at different hospitals. They also want to learn more about which types of cancer respond best to this treatment.
In the future, carbon-ion radiotherapy might be included in regular treatment options for certain breast cancer patients, especially those who want to avoid surgery or cannot have it.
In conclusion, this study shows strong early evidence that carbon-ion radiotherapy could offer a safe and effective alternative to surgery for some women with early breast cancer.
It could protect both their health and their sense of self by avoiding major surgery and keeping their appearance intact. More research is needed, but this could change the way early breast cancer is treated in the years ahead.
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The study is published in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology*Biology*Physics.
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