Breast intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) reduces skin side-effects of radiotherapy in early breast cancer

Breast intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) - a technique that delivers radiation equally throughout the breast tissue and avoids radiation 'hot spots' in which some areas of the breast receive higher doses than others - reduces the skin side-effects that commonly occur with standard radiation therapy, according to a study in women with early breast cancer.

Women with early-stage breast cancer are generally treated with breast-conserving surgery, or lumpectomy, which minimises the amount of breast tissue removed, followed by radiation therapy to the whole breast. Clinical studies have shown that this treatment approach is associated with a low risk of the cancer returning (recurrence) while maintaining the shape of the breast as much as possible. It provides an effective alternative approach to mastectomy, in which the breast is completely removed.

source: Cancer Medic Service