Women Under 45 Benefit From Radiation Boost for DCIS Breast Cancer

Early stage breast cancer patients may lower their risk of recurrence if they are treated with an extra boost of radiation, in addition to the standard six-week treatments. DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ) is a non-invasive form of breast cancer and is considered to be at an early stage. Patients can often be successfully treated with minimally invasive surgery, such as lumpectomy, with a follow-up regimen of radiation.

In a BBC story, Dr Guenther Gruber reported the results of his recent study of 373 DCIS breast cancer patients, the risk of recurrence was smallest when an booster dose of radiation was given, and greatest when no radiation was given, after surgery to remove the cancer.