Breast Cancer Treatment News Update: Powerful Radiation Therapy in a Shorter Period is a Better Cure, Study Says

Breast cancer is the leading type of cancer that can cause death among Hispanic women, and is the most common type of cancer in women in the world, according to US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In 2011 alone, over 220,000 women have been diagnosed in the US, while 40,931 have died from it. Fortunately, a new study has discovered another way of curing it--by using powerful radiation therapy during a shorter period course.

NY City Today writes that a study conducted by the MD Anderson Cancer Center has discovered that breast cancer patients who have received higher amount of radiation therapy for only four weeks have shown significant improvements when compared to patients who have received a lower amount in over six weeks. This is the first time that a comprehensive study analysis has been used to compare the quality of life of breast cancer patients if they use two different radiation therapy treatments.

Dr. Simona Shaitelman, lead author of the study and a professor of radiation oncology in MD Anderson, said medical experts can now conclude, based on the findings, that the standard treatment for breast cancer patients ages 40 and above is shorter, higher dosage of radiation. This has been an eye opener for the cancer experts because breast cancer has always been treated with smaller doses of radiation for a longer time.

The Inquistr adds that the shorter period treatment is called the "hypofractionated whole-breast cancer irradiation," a method that has been around the field for a while but due to lack of knowledge of possible reaction and effects, most experts shy away from this treatment.

Dr. Shyam Tangturi and Dr, Jennifer Bellon from Harvard University have written that it is time that hypofractionation should be given consideration by breast cancer patients because it has been proven to control tumor size, has cheaper costs and can lessen the risk of developing other comorbidities.

The study has sampled the use of hypofractionation on about 300 breast cancer patients age 39 and over, who have undergone lumpectomy on stages zero to two, The Market Business reports. Most of them have shown less side effects and after six months, have been able to do their daily routines with less fatigue and less issues.

The study, titled "Acute and Short-term Toxic Effects of Conventionally Fractionated vs Hypofractionated Whole-Breast Irradiation: A Randomized Clinical Trial," has been published in the journal JAMA Oncology on Aug. 6.