Dear Radiation Oncology Insider,
The San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, held annually in December, has a reputation for being the venue to announce important and often practice-changing information. This year, findings from one study conducted by researchers at MD Anderson Cancer Center have stirred up quite a debate, prompting front-page coverage in the New York Times.
The study compared outcomes of more than 130,000 Medicare patients older than 66 years who underwent either accelerated partial-breast irradiation (APBI) breast brachytherapy or conventional whole-breast radiation therapy. The study -- and reactions to it -- are the subject of this newsletter's Insider Exclusive. As an Insider subscriber, you receive this article before it is published on AuntMinnie.com.
Brachytherapy was also in the spotlight at last week's RSNA annual meeting. One small but interesting study from the University of Kentucky discussed the viability of performing salvage prostate cancer brachytherapy. Click here to learn the details.
We're also featuring a study that showed that treating prostate cancer with brachytherapy instead of prostatectomy doesn't increase the risk of a second primary cancer. Click here to read about this Dutch study of nearly 2,000 men.
Speaking of spotlights, concern about patients receiving inappropriate radiation doses is still on the radar for the ECRI Institute. It continues to have a high rank in the annual list of technology hazards that this respected research and consulting group prepares for hospitals. Click here to learn more.
On a positive note, the common side effect of dry mouth may be relieved by acupuncture, and research with mice shows promise that probiotics could protect human intestines from damage.
Remember to keep checking in with your Radiation Oncology Digital Community, and have a very happy holiday season!
