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Timely Radiation Beneficial For Cancer Treatment

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Dec 3, 2008 8:58 pm US/Eastern

Timely Radiation Beneficial For Cancer Treatment

(KDKA) When Elizabeth Morris was diagnosed with early breast cancer she knew the clock was ticking.

"As soon as I had the surgery I didn't want to wait," she says. The 86-year-old made sure she was quickly treated with radiation.

A new study suggests that her fast and thorough action may help save her life.

Researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College found that for women over the age of 64 with early breast cancer delays in post surgical radiation significantly increased the risk of the cancer coming back.

"We know from past experience that there's still probably cells hiding out somewhere in the breast," explains Dr. Mary Katherine Hayes. "If you wait a long long time, you're allowing those cells that we know are there hiding somewhere to grow."

The study found that in stage 1 cancer patients, an 8 week delay increased the recurrence rate by 40 percent. Women whose treatment was delayed by 12 weeks
were 400 percent more likely to develop another breast tumor. And a majority of the under-treated patients lived in high poverty areas.

"Their care isn't being coordinated very well, or they don't know the importance of seeking an obtaining timely and complete radiation treatment," says Heather Taffet Gold, PhD.

Elizabeth is counting on her treatment. "I just really hope that the treatment will prevent it from coming back." 


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