Lower Overall Dosage of Radiotherapy in Fewer Larger Doses as Safe for Breast Cancer Patients
8 February 2010 - The chronic side-effects of radiotherapy for early breast cancer, as reported by women themselves, are not any worse when treatment is given in a lower overall dose in fewer but larger treatments.
The study was part of the 4,451 patient START trials, which were co-ordinated by the Clinical Trials and Statistics Unit at the ICR. These trials found that a lower total dose of radiotherapy, delivered in fewer, larger treatments, is as effective at treating the disease as the international standard of a higher total dose delivered over a longer time.
In the new part of the START trial, around half the women in the study were asked to fill in questionnaires about their side-effects over a five year period before and after treatment. They were asked if they had noticed changes to the breast such as hardness, swelling and sensitivity or if they had experienced any arm or shoulder problems including pain and stiffness. These 2,208 women also answered questions on perceptions of body image.
The researchers found that long term side-effects were common for all the radiotherapy schedules with about 40 per cent of women overall reporting moderate or marked changes to the breast since treatment. Over time, breast symptoms and body image concerns did decrease.
They also found that skin changes were significantly fewer in the treatments giving lower overall dose in fewer larger doses, with a similar overall pattern for the other side effects, which supports the use of delivering radiotherapy treatment in this manner for women who have had surgery for early breast cancer.
Professor John Yarnold, Chief Investigator of the trial from the ICR, said: “Trials which follow up patients like this are crucial so that improvements in treatment can be made without compromising the side effects.”
