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A recent study in Jama Oncology indicates that women who had shorter-course of high-dose radiation therapy for early-stage breast cancer had fewer side effects and improved quality of life – as compared to those that had a long course of low-dose radiation.
Following breast-conserving surgery (lumpectomy), whole breast radiation is the preferred treatment for patients with early-stage breast cancer. Research regarding the duration and dosage of radiation therapy influences a patient’s prognosis, as was indicated in this particular study over a period of 6 months:
Women who were treated with hypofractionated whole-breast irradiation (HF-WBI) – shorter courses of treatment using high-dose radiation had fewer complications caring for themselves and their families’ needs, as opposed to those that had conventionally fractionated whole-breast irradiation (CF-WBI) – longer course of low-dose radiation.
Further investigation concluded women who received HF-WBI experienced had lower incidences of associated side effects from radiation, such as severe itching, breast pain, acute dermatitis, fatigue and more. Oncologists strongly believe patients should be aware of the benefits and consider HF-WBI when they require whole breast radiation.
In other breast cancer news, doctors may have the ability to predict breast cancer relapse (returning cancer) – a new blood test recently developed can detect residual cancer cells (circulating tumor DNA) that evaded prior intervention in patients that are in remission. This simple blood test demonstrates high accuracy, detecting possible relapses months in advance to traditional hospital scans, as well as facilitate further personalized treatment approaches.
Triple-negative breast cancer (basal-like breast cancer) is an aggressive type of breast cancer and harder to treat as cancer cells lack estrogen, progesterone, and HER2 receptors, thus is requires a combined treatment plan. Scientists have discovered high concentrations of a particular molecule (IL13RA2) on the cell surface of this type of cancer; this could potentially lead to a more targeted treatment approach and on a broader scale to target other cancer types expressing IL13RA2.