Study Reveals Radiotherapy Benefits Persist for a Decade in Breast Cancer Patients

A recently published study journal in the Lancet Oncology states that providing radiotherapy after surgery could prevent breast cancer from returning to the same place for up to 10 years. This protective effect is limited after a decade when the risk of cancer recurrence is similar to that in those who have not received radiotherapy. The findings provide a more complete picture of the long-term benefits of radiotherapy with breast cancer surgery, followed by radiotherapy which remains the standard care for women with early-stage breast cancer. Radiotherapy targets high doses of radiation to the breast to destroy any remaining cancer cells after the removal of the tumor.

The Scottish Breast Conservation Trial, led by the University of Edinburgh, looked at 585 women who received treatment for early-stage breast cancer in Scotland – half received radiotherapy and half did not. The average follow-up period for patients was 18 years, with some cases followed for more than three decades.

After 10 years, 16 per cent of those who had radiotherapy had experienced the return of their cancer in the same location, compared with 36 per cent of those who did not have the treatment. Despite a reduction in cancer recurrence, survival rates did not improve with radiotherapy treatment. Average overall survival rates after 30 years were similar for those who received postoperative radiotherapy and those who did not – 19.2 years and 18.7 years, respectively. There were fewer deaths from breast cancer among those who received radiotherapy than those who did not – 37 per cent versus 46 per cent. By contrast, there were more deaths from other cancers in the group who received radiotherapy – 20 per cent versus 11 per cent.

Based on the study findings, it can be concluded that radiotherapy for breast cancer provides substantial and sustained benefits, significantly reducing the risk of recurrence and mortality for at least ten years. These long-term advantages underscore the importance of radiotherapy as a critical component of breast cancer treatment protocols, highlighting its role in improving patient outcomes and survival rates. The study's results support continued use and optimization of radiotherapy techniques to maximise its effectiveness for breast cancer patients.

References: Reanalysis and results after 12 years of follow-up in a randomised clinical trial comparing total mastectomy with lumpectomy with or without irradiation in the treatment of breast cancer. N Engl J Med. 1995; 333: 1456-1461