NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Dec 11 - In women with early-stage breast cancer who are not receiving chemotherapy, intervals longer than 20 weeks from breast-conserving surgery to radiation therapy are associated with an inferior outcome, Canadian researchers report in an early on-line publication by the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Dr. Ivo A. Olivotto of the British Columbia Cancer Agency - Vancouver Island Centre, Victoria, and colleagues studied data on more than 6400 women who had early stage breast cancer diagnosed between 1989 and 2003.
After a median follow-up of 7.5 years, the team found that various intervals ranging from 4 weeks up to a maximum of 20 weeks between surgery and radiation therapy had no significant effect on outcome.
However, the researchers report, "Participants who waited longer than 20 weeks had higher rates of local and distant recurrence and inferior breast cancer-specific survival compared with participants who started radiation therapy within 4 to 8 weeks of surgery."
On the other hand, say the investigators, "There is no evidence that hastening patients to start radiotherapy within 4 or even 12 weeks of breast-conserving surgery is necessary or helpful. At the same time, a cavalier attitude to the timing of radiotherapy is not appropriate or advocated."
Commenting on the findings, Dr. Olivotto told Reuters Health, "Women may be advised that they have time for the breast to heal and to gather information and make informed decisions, so they will be active partners in the cancer care planning."
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