Conference Coverage

VIDEO: Treat most older women with stage I breast cancer with lumpectomy only


 

EXPERT ANALYSIS FROM MBCC

References

MIAMI – The trend over time to use less invasive surgery for breast cancer – from radical mastectomy to radical modified mastectomy to simplified mastectomy to lumpectomy – should extend now radiation therapy in older women with stage I disease, “and not give it unless it’s absolutely needed,” Dr. Kevin Hughes said at the annual Miami Breast Cancer Conference, held by Physicians’ Education Resource.

In fact, in most instances, these older women should receive lumpectomy without radiation, said Dr. Hughes of Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston.

Three major trials that looked at stage I cancer in women over 50, 65, or 70 years of age reached the same conclusion: that radiation adds little benefit to overall treatment.

Dr. Hughes also said oncologists with genomic information on a specific cancer can also choose to more judiciously order radiation treatment, particularly with luminal A and, possibly, luminal B cancers.

Dr. Hughes had no relevant financial disclosures.

The video associated with this article is no longer available on this site. Please view all of our videos on the MDedge YouTube channel.

Recommended Reading

A Perfect Storm: Patterns of care
MDedge Internal Medicine
Prospective study confirms chemo not needed after low Recurrence Score
MDedge Internal Medicine
Ultrasound bested tomosynthesis for screening dense breast tissue
MDedge Internal Medicine
VIDEO: Focused breast cancer radiation maintains efficacy, cuts AEs
MDedge Internal Medicine
VIDEO: Physicians must counsel women on mastectomy misperceptions
MDedge Internal Medicine
VIDEO: Dr. Ann Partridge discusses counseling young breast cancer patients
MDedge Internal Medicine
VIDEO: Advice varies for chemoprevention, genetic testing in invasive breast cancer
MDedge Internal Medicine
VIDEO: Breast cancer surgery choice depends on the individual
MDedge Internal Medicine
VIDEO: Counseling patients considering contralateral prophylactic mastectomy
MDedge Internal Medicine
VIDEO: Carefully consider impact of MRI to detect contralateral breast cancer
MDedge Internal Medicine