Shorter Course of Breast Cancer Radiation Wont Affect Breast Reconstruction [Video]

Key Takeaways

Most breast cancer patients have radiation after undergoing mastectomyA large Phase 3 trial shows that higher doses over a shorter period don’t negatively affect breast reconstruction surgeryThe study was conducted in more than 200 cancer centers in the United States and Canada

MONDAY, Sept. 30, 2024 (HealthDay News) — A shorter course of post-mastectomy radiation doesn’t jeopardize a patient’s chances of successful breast reconstruction, a new study finds.

About 40 percent of people with breast cancer have mastectomies, followed by five to six weeks of radiation therapy to kill any cancer cells that may remain in the chest wall or lymph nodes. Most opt for breast reconstruction.

“Over the past 10 years, we’ve tried to move all patients who need breast radiation to a shorter, more convenient schedule,” said lead researcher Dr. Matthew Poppe, a professor of radiation oncology at the University of Utah. “But patients after mastectomy who were planning breast reconstruction were the one group …