Radiotherapy of the Breast

Lumpectomy, or breast conservation surgery (BCS), followed by approximately 6 weeks of daily whole-breast radiation therapy (WB-XRT) has been available for several decades as an alternative to mastectomy for the local therapy of women with early stage breast cancer. The long-term safety and effectiveness of BCT compared with mastectomy has been confirmed through prospective, randomized trials conducted in the USA and Europe. Local recurrence after BCS+WB-XRT (the combination of BCS and WB-XRT is known as breast conservation therapy, BCT) is slightly more common than after mastectomy but there is no difference in overall survival. This makes breast conservation an appealing option for many women. A recent study demonstrated that 63 % of women treated for breast cancer in the USA select breast BCT. Overall, the availability of breast conservation therapy has expanded treatment options and enhanced the lives of many women diagnosed with breast cancer who otherwise would have been forced to choose mastectomy.