Breast conserving therapy for recurrent breast cancer as effective as mastectomy

Credit National Cancer Institute

CANCER DIGEST – Nov. 23, 2019 – Treating breast cancer that recurs in the other breast following lumpectomy and whole breast radiation in one breast is as effective as breast removal, new research published in the JAMA Oncology shows.

The multi-center study led by Douglas Arthur, MD, Chair of the Department of Radiation at Virginia University’s Massey Cancer Center involved 58 patients whose breast cancer had recurred with a single tumor in the opposite breast one year or less after lumpectomy and whole breast radiation in the first breast. Recurrent tumors were detected early at 3 centimeters or less in size. Of the 58 cancers, 23 were non-invasive and 35 were invasive.

After a second lumpectomy to remove the small recurrent tumors, the patients underwent a more focused partial breast radiation therapy, and were then followed for a median of 5.5 years, meaning half were followed for less than than that and half were followed longer.

Four patients (5 percent) had a second recurrence in the same breast, and seven patients ultimately underwent removal of a breast, showing that second breast conserving treatment with lumpectomy and partial radiation therapy was achieved in 90 percent of the patients. Overall 95 percent of the patients survived.

The researchers concluded that for patients treated with breast conserving therapy who experience recurrence of breast cancer in the opposite breast could safely be offered a second lumpectomy and radiation regimen.

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Source: NRG Oncology press release