Stage I and II breast carcinoma: treatment with limited surgery and radiation therapy versus mastectomy

Article Abstract:

Women fear breast cancer, both because it is the second leading cause of death from cancer in women and because of the effects it can have on appearance and functioning. Unfortunately, this fear prevents some women from seeking early treatment for breast abnormalities. Traditional treatment for breast cancer has consisted of mastectomy, surgical removal of the breasts. Recently, alternative treatments to mastectomy have become available. Treatment with limited surgery to remove the cancerous tissue and radiation therapy to prevent recurrence of the cancer is a viable alternative to mastectomy in some cases. This treatment has a much smaller affect on appearance and functioning and more importantly, it appears to be as effective as mastectomy in treating breast cancer. This study compared the effectiveness of limited surgery and radiation therapy versus mastectomy in the treatment of stage I and II breast cancer. Five-year survival rates were computed for patients treated for breast cancer at one hospital between 1980 and 1986. A total of 2,140 patients met the study criteria, of whom 1,179 had breast cancer with no lymph node involvement and 961 had breast cancer with lymph node involvement. Of the 1,179 patients, 964 were treated with a mastectomy and 215 were treated with limited surgery and radiation therapy. The five-year survival rate for these patients was 88 percent for the 964 patients treated with mastectomy and 96 percent for the 215 patients treated with limited surgery. For the 961 patients with lymph node involvement, 855 were treated with mastectomy and 106 were treated with limited surgery and radiation therapy. Five-year survival rates were 77 percent and 96 percent, respectively. These results indicate that treating breast cancer with limited surgery and radiation therapy is as effective as treatment with mastectomy. They also indicate that radiation therapy may be important in increasing survival rates where the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Care and treatment, Surgery, Breast cancer, Mastectomy

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Bone scans with one or two new abnormalities in cancer patients with no known metastases: reliability of interpretation of initial correlative radiographs

Article Abstract:

One of the major dangers that cancer patients face is the spread (metastasis) of the cancer from its point of origin to other tissues and organs in the body. Bone scans are performed on cancer patients to detect changes that might be indicative of metastases. The scans can detect abnormalities, but cannot always determine if the abnormalities are due to cancer. Correlative radiographs (X-rays) are frequently taken of the bone abnormalities and are often used to make a final diagnosis. The reliability of using X-rays for final diagnosis in these cases has not been examined previously. Results of X-rays, taken after bone scans showing new abnormalities in cancer patients, were compared with the final diagnosis. A total of 306 scans indicating new abnormalities in patients without previously diagnosed metastases were performed. X-rays results initially appeared normal for 132 patients (43 percent); 22 (17 percent) of these abnormalities were later found to be cancerous. In 115 cases, X-rays results showed a benign condition such as a fracture; in only one case was cancer found at follow-up. X-rays results suggestive of cancer were seen in 17 cases, and 4 (24 percent) of these abnormalities were cancerous. X-ray results consistent with cancer were seen in 21 cases, of which 15 (71 percent) were cancerous. These results indicate that when correlative X-rays are taken in response to abnormal findings on bone scans in cancer patients, results showing a benign cause of the abnormality are reliable. However, if the findings are either normal or suggestive of cancer, further investigation is recommended. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Usage, Bones, Abnormalities, X-rays, Cancer diagnosis, Radionuclide imaging, Radioisotope scanning, Radioisotopes in medical diagnosis, Radioisotopic diagnosis, Bone tumors, Musculoskeletal abnormalities

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Cervical carcinoma: treatment results and complications of extended-field irradiation

Article Abstract:

Cancer of the cervix of the uterus, cervical carcinoma, metastasizes (spreads from the uterus) via the lymph vessels which are associated with the main artery of the body, the aorta (paraaortic lymph vessels and nodes). There is a known association between the clinical staging of the tumor (degree of malignancy) and the rate of metastasis into the paraaortic lymph chain. This investigation studies hospital charts and findings (retrospective study) to evaluate the survival, pattern of recurrence (return of cancer) and complications of treatment in patients with paraaortic spread of cervical carcinoma. In general, the five-year survival rate of patients receiving surgery and radiation therapy (to a wide-field) has been low, ten to forty percent. In this study after a minimum follow-up of 48 months only 3 of 18 patients were alive and well. The rate of complications following the procedure is high, but is justified because only a small number of patients have been cured even by this aggressive treatment plan.

Cervical cancer, Cancer treatment

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