New radiation treatment lowers chances of cancer returning

The TROG MA.20 trial has shown lymph node radiation, together with breast radiation, after breast cancer surgery can benefit long-term breast cancer control.

For more than a decade the researchers monitored 1832 women with breast cancer that had spread to the lymph nodes.

About 82 per cent of the women who received radiation to the breast and lymph nodes were free of cancer 10 years later, compared to 77 per cent of women who received radiation to the breast only.

The clinical trial is co-ordinated by TROG Cancer Research in Australia.

Associate Professor Boon Chua, director of breast service at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and the trial’s international co-chair, said the difference in cancer-free survival was statistically significant.

“Breast cancer is the most common cancer in Australian women, and most women who have localised surgery to remove the cancer received radiation to the breast after surgery,” Associate Professor Chua said.

“Women who have cancer detected in their lymph nodes may wish to discuss lymph node radiation with their doctors to help them make an informed decision about their treatment options.”

The trial found that not only did the treatment decrease the risk of cancer returning to the lymph nodes (10 years later) but also to other parts of the body such as the liver and lungs (reduced from 17.6 per cent to 13.7 per cent).