title: Non-surgical management of early breast cancer in the United Kingdom: the role and practice of radiotherapy. Clinical Audit Sub-committee of the Faculty of Clinical Oncology, Royal College of Radiologists, and the Joint Council for Clinical Oncology.
abstract: This paper reports on the delivery of radiotherapy to the primary site and lymphatic pathways in the management of early stage breast cancer. Radiotherapists were clear that their aim of locoregional radiotherapy was to reduce local recurrence. However, variation in policies for delivery were seen: 80% of radiotherapists did not always give radiotherapy routinely following wide local excision as part of breast conserving management; instead they withheld it selectively for a number of reasons. Only 66% routinely used breast boosts. There was a range of indications for giving radiotherapy to the lymphatic pathways; there was also variation in the management of incompletely or marginally excised primary tumours. Most sources of variation in the practice of radiotherapy in the management of women with early stage breast cancer appeared to arise from scientific uncertainty. However, organizational issues influenced many decisions. These scientific uncertainties and organizational issues are best addressed in the context of multidisciplinary breast clinics.
authors.affiliation: Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Price
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Yarnold
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D002173:Cancer Care Facilities / Q000458:organization & administration; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000528:radiation effects; D008408:Mastectomy; D015412:Mastectomy, Segmental; D008495:Medical Oncology; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000532:radiotherapy; D016134:Organizational Policy; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D011882:Radiotherapy, High-Energy; D012586:Science; D006113:United Kingdom