For Release: October 25, 1998
Contact: Keri J. Sperry, (703) 295-6775
Michael J. Bernstein (703) 648-8910, [email protected]
Relapse Rate Higher for Younger Women Who Have Breast-Conserving Surgery for Cancer
Women 40 years old and younger who receive breast-conserving surgery for breast cancer appear to have a higher risk for recurrence and spread of the disease than older patients, a French study has found.
The study was presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO) October 25-29 in Phoenix, AZ.
Younger women often present with more aggressive disease and tend to develop breast recurrences earlier than older women. Patients who have such relapses in the first four years after treatment are at higher risk of having the disease spread, according to Anne de la Rochefordiere M.D., study lead investigator. Dr. de la Rochefordiere is a radiation oncologist with the Institut Curie, Paris.
Researchers still do not know why women 40 and younger are at higher risk of recurrence and spread of their breast cancer after conservative treatment, she says. "Although mastectomy might reduce the risk of treatment failure in younger patients," Dr. de la Rochefordiere says," the problem might be that young patients have a more aggressive biology."
At present, Dr. de la Rochefordiere says, physicians agree that breast cancer patients-young and old-should have adjuvant chemotherapy right after lumpectomy, delaying radiation therapy for several months. "Maybe we should consider doing chemotherapy and radiation at the same time or modify the way we do radiation therapy with pre-menopausal women," she suggests.
The study included 1,425 pre-menopausal breast cancer patients from age 35 and younger to age 55, all treated with lumpectomy and radiation. The study found that patients 40 and younger had a significantly higher risk of treatment failure in the breast as well as a higher risk of cancer spread to other sites, compared to older post-menopausal breast cancer patients.
The American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO) is the largest radiation oncology society in the world, with more than 5,000 members. As a leading organization in radiation oncology, biology and physics, the society's goals are to advance the scientific base of radiation therapy and to extend the benefits of radiation therapy to those with cancer. To receive copies of the abstracts contact Keri J. Sperry (703) 295-6775.
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