The chances of breast cancer recurring remain low when patients are treated with radiotherapy that is tailored to their individual risk following chemotherapy and surgery. These are the findings of a 10-year Dutch study (RAPCHEM; BOOG 2010-03) presented at the 15th European Breast Cancer Conference (EBCC15) in Barcelona (Abstract 1).
In the study, radiotherapy treatment was selected according to whether there were signs of breast cancer cells in patients’ lymph nodes after chemotherapy and surgery. For women with no signs of cancer remaining in the lymph nodes, this approach meant minimal or even no radiotherapy. Scaling treatment down can reduce side effects for patients.
The research was presented by Fleur Mauritz, MD, a radiation oncologist-in-training at Maastro, Maastricht Radiation Oncology Institute,…