Breast cancer : Breast cancer treatment effective in women with implants

Women with early-stage breast cancer who have had breast implants can be effectively treated with a partial-breast radiation treatment, say researchers.

The research team found that patients treated with brachytherapy have better cosmetic outcomes and avoid the risk of the implant hardening, compared to patients who undergo

whole-breast radiation therapy.

“We are seeing an increasing number of breast cancer patients

with augmentation,” said Robert R. Kuske Jr., M.D., clinical

professor at the University of Arizona Health Sciences Center

and radiation oncologist at Arizona Oncology Services in

Scottsdale, Ariz.

“By nature, these women are concerned about their appearance and

we need to have options for them,” he added.

Breast brachytherapy is a radiation treatment that can be given

in higher doses to a small, targeted area of the breast after

lumpectomy.

Radioactive “seeds” are guided into place through small plastic

tubes, or catheters, with the aid of imaging and a computer. The

seeds emit high doses of radiation in short bursts.

Scar tissue is minimal, the implant remains unaffected and

treatment time is shortened from 6 1/2 weeks with whole-breast

radiation therapy to five days with brachytherapy.

For the study, 65 women who were diagnosed with small, early

stage malignant tumors were treated with brachytherapy after a

lumpectomy.

The women received two doses per day, separated by six hours,

over a five-day period. Follow-up was six months to five years.

None of the patients experienced tumour recurrence during the

follow-up period.

Cosmetic outcome was determined to be good to excellent in 100

percent of patients with 95 percent judged excellent. Implant

hardening was not observed in any of the patients.

“Compared to traditional treatments, brachytherapy offers an

excellent alternative for these women,” Dr. Kuske said.

“It offers very high rates of tumor control with fewer side

effects and is easier on their lifestyle,” he added.

The study was presented at the annual meeting of the

Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). (ANI)