Health: Breast Cancer Patients Getting Too Much Radiation
By Stephanie Stahl
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Women with early stage breast cancer are getting unnecessarily long radiation treatments according to a new study released Wednesday from Penn Medicine.
The first time Jeanne Perlmutter had breast cancer, she had surgery and seven weeks of radiation. Now, with a recurrence, she'll get just three weeks of radiation.
"This will make it easier, a lot easier," she says.
But most women like Jeanne with early stage breast cancer continue to get longer courses of radiation, even though shorter treatments are just as effective, according to the new research from Penn Medicine. Dr. Gary Freedman, a radiation oncologist says, "The cure rates are the same and the cosmetic results of the breast are just as good with shorter courses."
So why are most patients still getting the traditional seven weeks of radiation if it's not necessary? Dr. Freedman says, "Probably the most important reason for this is a relative slowness for physicians to change."
He says higher dosage and shorter radiation used to be associated with an increased risk of side effects like tissue damage, but not anymore.
"The radiation is given now in a safer way with more computer assisted planning. Three-dimensional treatment planning and the doses that we give today are causing less side effects," according to Dr. Freedman.
Jeanne is relieved that the shorter radiation is now a viable option. Of the radiation, she says, "It's not difficult. You're a little anxious, but there's no pain."
Shorter-term radiation for early stage breast cancer to destroy microscopic cells is more common in Canada and the United Kingdom. Doctors say that in addition to being more convenient for the patient, it's less expensive.
For more info, visit: www.uphs.upenn.edu/radiology