Radiation after lumpectomy helps prevent need for subsequent mastectomy for elderly women with early stage breast cancer

Researchers at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have unveiled new findings suggesting that radiation therapy following breast conserving surgery may prevent the need for mastectomy. These findings are of particular relevance for older early-stage breast cancer patients, and contradicts current treatment guidelines, "which recommend that older women with early stage estrogen-positive disease should be treated with lumpectomy followed by estrogen blocker therapy alone." Thus radiation may be beneficial to certain women where guidelines had not previously suggested this course of action.

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Study mentioned: Albert JM et al. Effectiveness of radiation for prevention of mastectomy in older breast cancer patients treated with conservative surgery. Cancer 2012 Aug 13. [Epub ahead of print]. PMID 22890779