Welcome to October. Welcome to the pink coated month that tries to sell you everything and anything in the name of breast cancer awareness. And I present to you in celebration of breast cancer awareness month, what is new out there in the science and treatment of breast cancer.
Intraoperative Radiation Therapy (IORT)
IORT is the administration of a single dose of radiation at the same time as a lumpectomy. This means that the post op radiation treatments are not needed. It saves the patient skin damage and 30 to 33 visits to the radiation oncology suite. It also does not have the rare side effects of the radiation affecting your heart, lungs or ribs. It is also more cost effective as it costs about $3,500 less than a lumpectomy with standard radiation treatment. Did you know that nearly 1/3rd of patients don't finish their radiation treatments? I can't even imagine not finishin.
Why this could revolutionize breast cancer treatment
60% of all patients diagnosed with breast cancer have early stage breast cancer that is treated with lumpectomy and radiation. This would dramatically cut down on the length of a patient's cancer treatment. Instead of lumpectomy + time to heal + 6 weeks of radiation, it now becomes have a lumpectomy plus IORT on Monday go back to work by Thursday. That's pretty amazing.
Is it just as effective?
Here in lies the controversy. In the major study done with 1,000 patients the 5 year risk of recurrence for those who received IORT was 3.3% vs 1.3% for those who received standard treatment. That seems fairly close. However, those who received IORT were only followed for 29 months, which if my math is correct, happens to be a little short of the 60 months that make up 5 years. Also, because oncotyping doesn't occur until after the lumpectomy those patients who were found to have more aggressive cancer then received more radiation post operatively, but were included in the IORT data.
Bottom Line
Very promising change in treatment that could effect the quality of life of early stage breast cancer patients who need lumpectomy and radiation. True recurrence risk data is still needed, meaning more time is necessary. But, definitely something to keep an eye out for.
I will also be celebrating Breast Cancer Awareness month be getting my 2.5 year Vaccine or Placebo shots in my thigh. I'll be sporting a giant pink quadriceps. In the name of breast cancer science and the advancement of treatment.
Source: Beck, M. (2015, August 25). New Way to Use Radiation In Treating Breast Cancer. Wall Street Journal, p D1.
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