Dutch study shows that radiation therapy for ductal carcinoma in situ does not seem to increase cardiovascular disease risk

A large population-based study in the Netherlands found that women who had received radiation therapy to treat ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast (DCIS) have no increased risk of cardiovascular disease compared to the general population of Dutch women, nor compared to DCIS patients treated with surgery only. These results may be helpful to women who are deciding on their treatment plan and seem reassuring for DCIS survivors treated with radiotherapy. This is the first large study to evaluate long-term effects of radiotherapy for DCIS on both the incidence of cardiovascular disease and associated death rates. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Boekel N. et al. Cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients treated for ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast. Presented at the 2013 Breast Cancer Symposium, Sept. 7-9, 2013, San Francisco, California.