Breakthrough comment on new radiotherapy research

New research published in the Lancet Oncology (online) shows that it is possible to give patients with early breast cancer a lower radiotherapy dose in fewer sessions, which is just as effective as, and doesn't seem to increase the side effects of, standard radiotherapy treatment.

The results from researchers at the Institute of Cancer Research and The Royal Marsden Hospital Trust say that delivering radiotherapy in this way has the potential to improve patients quality of life as fewer hospital visits and radiotherapy treatments would be required.

Meg Macarthur from Breakthrough Breast Cancer says:
"It is encouraging to see that a patient’s experience of breast cancer treatment can be improved, with no apparent increase in side effects. Radiotherapy is important in reducing the chance of cancer coming back but women have told Breakthrough that attending many sessions can be both physically and emotionally draining.  Anything that has the potential to deliver radiotherapy treatment in a way that could benefit a patient’s quality of life is to be welcomed.”