Radiation therapy for breast cancer has been used as a treatment technique for many years. While there are many different types of treatments for breast cancer, radiation therapy in addition to conventional treatments such as surgery or hormonal treatments can improve the success of your treatment.
Radiation therapy has evolved dramatically over the last 10 years, with treatment now offering greater precision, shorter treatment times and a more convenient and comfortable experience for patients. One of the most important benefits has been the ability to reduce the number of treatment sessions (or ‘fractions’) required during radiation therapy for breast cancer. For many patients, radiation therapy treatment is just as effective when given over three to four weeks compared to five to six weeks.
The UK Fast-Forward trial, which was published in The Lancet Journal, recently investigated whether radiation therapy for breast cancer can safely be shortened from four weeks to one week with five consecutive treatments.1 Preliminary findings of the trial have shown that although the risk of cancer returning seems to be just as low when treatment is delivered in one week compared with four weeks, some women who were treated in one week experienced additional side effects such as breast thickening and breast pain. The trial also only studied women who were managed in a specific manner and may not be applicable for all patients. Most patients were older and did not have a mastectomy. In addition, the follow-up remains short (most patients had four to five years of follow-up or less) and many radiation oncologists in the US and Australia remain cautious about this approach.
