Maybe no radiation for early breast cancer

ST. LOUIS, March 9 (UPI) -- U.S. researchers say early-stage breast cancer patients may not need radiation after a mastectomy.

Researchers at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston found low overall risk of recurrences for patients receiving surgery followed by chemotherapy -- whether there was no spread to axillary lymph nodes or there was spread to one to three lymph nodes.

"This research will provoke much discussion among those caring for women with early-stage breast disease. Replicating these findings should be a priority to ensure that patients only receive therapy that is medically necessary," senior author Dr. Henry Kuerer said in a statement.

Radiotherapy after mastectomy lowers the chances of recurrences, Kuerer said, but is indicated for patients with spread to more than four lymph nodes or a recurrence risk greater than 10 percent to 15 percent.

Kuerer and colleagues looked at 1,022 stage I or stage II breast cancer mastectomy patients -- 79 percent had no lymph node involvement and 26 percent had 1-3 positive lymph nodes involved. None received post-mastectomy radiation or preoperative chemotherapy and 77 percent received post-operative chemotherapy and/or hormonal therapy. The median age was 54 years. The median follow up time was 7.5 years.

The research was presented at the Society of Surgical Oncology annual cancer symposium in St. Louis.