RCHT contributes to UK study that confirms less intensive radiotherapy is safe and effective for early breast cancer
A landmark UK study has revealed that women aged 50+ with low-risk early breast cancer after breast-conserving surgery, can safely receive less intensive radiotherapy without compromising treatment effectiveness. The 10-year results, was led by Dr Duncan Wheatley, former Consultant Oncologist at the Royal Cornwall Hospital, offer new hope for thousands of patients seeking gentler treatment options.
The study, which followed over 2000 women including 136 participants were recruited from the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust (RCHT) between 2007 and 2021. It compared three types of radiotherapy following breast-conserving surgery:
- Whole-breast radiotherapy (standard treatment)
- Reduced-dose radiotherapy (lower dose to the whole breast, higher dose to the tumour site)
- Partial-breast radiotherapy (targeting only the area around the tumour)
The key findings after 10 years were that cancer recurrence in the same breast was low across all groups (2–3%) and reduced-dose and partial-breast radiotherapy were just as effective as the standard full-breast approach. Side effects, including breast shrinkage, were similar or slightly lower in the reduced and partial-breast groups. The findings support a shift in clinical practice, with targeted or lower-dose radiotherapy now supports partial-breast radiotherapy as a standard-of-care option for suitable low-risk patients.
RCHT are very grateful to all of the patients and staff who were involved in the study. Their contribution will help women recover with fewer side effects giving them an improved quality of life.
The full results can be found here.