Breast conserving treatment an option for women with implants

[Guest guest]

Another short-term study with a small population

delivers the desired results!!!

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http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2005-10/asft-bct101305.php

Breast conserving treatment an option for women with

implants

Findings challenge previous studies encouraging

mastectomies for these women

Breast conserving surgery followed by radiation

therapy is a good option for women with early-stage

breast cancer who have breast implants, according to a

study presented October 16, 2005, at the American

Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology's 47th

Annual Meeting in Denver.

The new findings challenge past studies that showed

delivering radiation to a breast with an implant in

place causes significant problems in the implant,

resulting in poor cosmetic results.

" Past research was based on a small sample of patients

and older radiation techniques, " said lyn Morrell,

M.D., lead author of this Mayo Clinic study.

" Therefore, we investigated a larger group of women

treated with radiation using newer techniques that

refuted the reports of poor cosmetic outcome among

patients. "

Most women with early-stage breast cancer are able to

undergo breast conservation surgery to keep their

breast after treatment. Typically, this means that

they first have surgery to remove the cancer (a

lumpectomy), followed by a course of radiation therapy

to kill any cancer cells that may remain. This

approach is just as effective as a mastectomy in

treating the cancer and is preferred by many women.

More women today are opting to have cosmetic breast

implants. As women age, their risk of breast cancer

increases, so a fraction of these women will

eventually develop breast cancer. These are the

patients who would be most interested in preserving

their breasts and avoiding mastectomy.

Between 1994 and 2004, researchers reviewed the

records of 26 breast cancer patients with previously

augmented breasts who were treated with breast

conservation surgery and radiation at the Mayo Clinic.

All patients had their implants in place before their

breast cancer diagnosis. Eighty-five percent of

patients followed over a three-year period had

favorable cosmetic results following radiation

therapy. None of the patients in the study suffered a

relapse of their cancer.

For more information on radiation therapy for breast

cancer, please visit www.rtanswers.org.

The study, " Results of Primary Radiation Therapy for

Breast Cancer in Cosmetically Augmented Patients " will

be available for poster viewing starting at 10:00 a.m.

on Sunday, October 16, 2005. If you would like a copy

of the abstract, or would like to speak to the lead

author of the study, lyn Morrell, M.D., please

call Beth Bukata or Nick Lashinsky October 16-20 in

the ASTRO Press Room at the Colorado Convention Center

at 303-288-8454 or 303-228-8455. You may also e-mail

them at bethb@... or nickl@....

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ASTRO is the largest radiation oncology society in the

world, with more than 8,000 members who specialize in

treating patients with radiation therapies. As a

leading organization in radiation oncology, biology

and physics, the Society is dedicated to the

advancement of the practice of radiation oncology by

promoting excellence in patient care, providing

opportunities for educational and professional

development, promoting research and disseminating

research results and representing radiation oncology

in a rapidly evolving socioeconomic healthcare

environment.