A major study suggests giving higher doses of radiotherapy but fewer exposure provides results that are 'at least as good' as the standard regime. The findings were published in Lancet Oncology and The Lancet.
The findings came after two trials START A and B involving nearly 4,500 women with early breast cancer. About half the women received the international standard of radiotherapy which involves 25 treatments, five times a week over five weeks. The rest received 20 % lower dose of radiation on 13 different occasions in either three or five weeks. There was a reduced rate of side effects and lower rate of 'late adverse effects' in women receiving shorter treatments.
The results suggest that a high total dose given in small treatments is no better than simpler schedules using fewer exposures to a lower total dose. Researchers said women with breast cancer 'could benefit from shorter bursts of radiotherapy' , but critics say the study failed to recognise the harm done to breast cancer patients by high doses of radiotherapy.
Source: "The UK Standardisation of Breast Radiotherapy (START) Trial A of radiotherapy hypofractionation for treatment of early breast cancer: a randomised trial" The Lancet Oncology, Current Issue, Volume 9, Number 4
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