Radiation therapy for operable breast cancer

Abstract

This review examined the 60 years of progress made in treating breast cancer from the unique perspective of the reader of Cancer, with a specific emphasis on the evolution of radiation therapy, constituting a survey of the published articles in each decade, and the standards of treatment and controversies of their times that they portray, in 3 major areas: radiation as an adjuvant therapy to mastectomy, radiation for internal mammary lymph node treatment, and radiation with breast-conserving surgery as an alternative to mastectomy. Cancer 2008;113(7 suppl):1779-800.

Changing practice patterns of adjuvant radiation among elderly women with early stage breast cancer in the United States from 2004 to 2014

“…While omission of conventional RT was further being advocated through National guideline changes, radiation techniques were also evolving with newer technologies enabling focused planning and delivery of radiation, thereby improving tolerance and side effects of post‐lumpectomy treatment . A growing interest in accelerated partial breast irradiation (PBI) blossomed in the past decade in hopes to increase convenience, utilization rates, and cosmetic outcomes.…”

A Meta-Analysis of Internal Mammary Lymph Node Metastasis in Breast Cancer Patients

“…Studying the risk factors for breast cancer [30] and developing treatment strategies to improve the patients' survival are currently in the focus of breast cancer research.…”

Comparison of Radiotherapeutic Management of Operated Breast Cancer in 1999 and in 2006: A Sampling Survey on the Southeast Coast of China

“…In many developed countries, a large proportion of patients with early stage invasive breast cancer are now treated with BCT rather than mastectomy 2,6,20 . In the United States, for example, 15-32% of patients received BCT in the mid-1980's, 45-57% in the 1990's, and the percentage increased to approximately 70% in 2005 7,17,20 . In Austria, a significant increase was also seen from 1984 to 1997 (30% vs 75%) 21 .…”

“…Since there is no evidence to support the difference in patient survival between mastectomy and breast-conserving therapy (BCT) for localized disease, both approaches are considered as standard treatment. Adjuvant irradiation after BCT or mastectomy is given to most of the patients 6,7 . The majority of such patients are now treated with BCT in developed countries, but some patients either require or choose mastectomy as their primary treatment 2,3,6 .…”

“…Many organizations have established standards of care and issued guidelines or consensus statements regarding the use of these treatments 6,7 . Surveys on the pattern of breast cancer therapy in some developed countries indicate that variations in clinical practice still remain despite the guidelines.…”