Radiotherapy Beats Surgery for Lymphoedema

A novel radiotherapy technique is emerging as a potential way to prevent lymphoedema, a debilitating arm swelling often experienced after breast cancer treatment. This approach aims to preserve patients' quality of life by avoiding the removal of underarm glands, a standard procedure that can disrupt the body's natural drainage system.

Research presented at the European Breast Cancer Conference in Barcelona compared patients who had glands removed with those treated via radiotherapy. The study, involving over 270 participants with cancer spread to nearby glands, found that lymphoedema developed in just under 18% of those treated with radiotherapy, significantly lower than the over 26% who underwent surgery.

Cancer recurrence rates were comparable between the two groups, with one recurrence in the surgery group and none in the radiotherapy group. While radiotherapy may cause temporary short-term skin side effects like redness, experts suggest the long-term benefits for quality of life could be substantial. A larger phase III trial is currently underway to further validate these findings, with results expected in approximately three years.