Radiotherapy breakthrough for breast cancer patients

A new radiotherapy method for breast cancer which uses hi-tech computer imaging could mean fewer side effects than conventional treatment.

Women diagnosed with early stage breast cancer usually have surgery to remove the tumour followed by radiotherapy of the whole breasts to prevent cancer returning.

But radiotherapy while effective causes some women's breasts to shrink or makes them feel lumpy or sore.

Some women who get these problems can also be prone to rare serious side effects including rib fractures and severe muscle stiffness.

A trial was carried out to assess a new system called Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT).

Preliminary results show women given IMRT are 30% less likely to suffer shrinkage of their breasts or other physical changes compared with those receiving conventional radiotherapy.

Much of the damage from conventional radiotherapy occurs because doses of radiation vary considerably as they reach different parts of the breast and some areas are overdosed.

IMRT uses computer imaging to judge the depth and density of tissue so that radiotherapy can be given at an equal constant dose to all parts of the breast.

The trial was funded by Cancer Research UK, the Royal Marsden Hospital and the Directorate of Health and Social Care South.