Radiotherapy for breast cancer.. Can it be avoided?

This is a summary of new research by a group of American researchers published by the “New England” Journal of Medicine, in which a number of doctors and researchers participated.

The study presents an important and necessary idea regarding the stages of treatment of cancer patients after removing the tumor or removing the cancerous lumps from the breast. Especially since the concern about radiation toxicity and the complications that usually accompany this type of treatment can be very painful and disturbing for some.

Doctors say that women prefer radiotherapy because it will reduce the risk of cancer returning, which means another surgery and different medications, and in return not undergoing this type of treatment will increase their disease again as well.

On the other hand, doctors say that younger patients with specific and non-serious types of cancer can skip radiotherapy, but with complete monitoring and continuous diagnosis after they undergo surgery.

Previous studies had indicated the importance of hormonal and radiation therapy after surgery to remove breast tumors in order to control the disease and increase their chances of survival.

In an interview on the subject, Dr. Sadir Al-Rawi, a consultant oncologist, told Sky News Arabia:

• Breast cancer treatments are radiation, chemotherapy, surgery, each of them when we need them we will have to use them.
• With the development of medicine, we are witnessing real progress in the three methods of treatment.
• The duration of radiotherapy is long, and some complications on the heart and lung make women not prefer it much.
• Chemotherapy is not needed by all patients with breast cancer, and the situation determines whether we need it or not.
• Radiation therapy works by directing a beam of radiation at the tumor, in some cases burning and swelling of the skin may occur.
• Hormonal therapy is capsules or injections and there are not many complications.