More Convenient Radiotherapy
1. United Kingdom Standardization of Breast Radiotherapy (START) trials explored a more convenient dosing schedule for breast irradiation following breast cancer surgery, with a lower total dose of irradiation.
2. Two studies with a total of 4,500 women participatants receiving either 25 treatments over 5 weeks or 15 treatments over 3 weeks.
A. Standard irradiation therapy, after breast surgery, is 5 times/week for 5 weeks.
B. The new method, called hypofractionationated radiotherapy, provides a lower dose of total irradiation compared to standard therapy.
C. After median follow up of 5 and 6 years, both studies showed fewer changes in breast tissue with the new regimen and equal efficacy as measured by the rate of locoregional relapse.
D. Side effects such as breast shrinking or swelling and telangiectasia were less common with the new regimen.
E. Additional research must be done before this method receives general approval.