Therapy Safe for Hereditary Breast Cancer
Reported November 26, 2004
(Ivanhoe Newswire)–A new study shows women with hereditary breast cancer who undergo breast conserving therapy are not at risk for cancer recurrence in the treated breast. However, researchers say these women are at an increased risk for developing cancer in the opposite breast.
Breast conserving therapy, which consists of a lumpectomy and radiation, has been shown to be safe and effective for non-hereditary forms of early breast cancer. However, the use of this kind of therapy has been controversial for hereditary breast cancers, because previous studies have shown an increased risk of recurrence in the treated breast.
Mark Robson, M.D., and colleagues from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York followed 87 women diagnosed with breast cancer and genetic mutations who were treated with breast conserving therapy.
The investigators found after 10 years, more than half of the women suffered a cancer-related event. More than 37 percent of these patients experienced a new cancer in the untreated breast.
Authors of the study conclude, Breast conserving treatment is a reasonable option for [women with gene mutations], and the indications for unilateral mastectomy should be the same for both hereditary and non-heriditary breast cancer.
SOURCE: CANCER, published online Nov. 22, 2004