Breast Cancer Care responds to University of Edinburgh research showing some patients can skip radiotherapy
Responding to the announcement from the University of Edinburgh that some older breast cancer patients could safely skip radiotherapy Dr Emma Pennery CBE, Clinical Director at Breast Cancer Care, says:
“At Breast Cancer Care, we know that some older women find the prospect of radiotherapy such a burden they opt to have a mastectomy to avoid it. So this research will be hugely welcomed by many patients.
“Radiotherapy can cause side effects such as pain and fatigue, which can be very daunting. Existing health conditions or reduced mobility also mean some older women have a lot of difficulty attending regular radiotherapy sessions.
“However, this study is on a group of patients with a particular kind of breast cancer. Findings also show rates of local recurrence were nearly 3% higher in women who didn’t have radiotherapy treatment. Radiotherapy is still a highly effective treatment for many women with breast cancer.”
For further information, please contact:
Sophie Softley Pierce, Press Officer, Breast Cancer Care
020 7960 3505 (out of hours 07702 901 334)
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