MONDAY, Aug. 29, 2005 (HealthDay News) -- Researchers are looking for women with early-stage breast cancer to participate in a study focused on whether limiting radiation therapy to specific tumor sites is as effective as irradiating the whole breast.
In the study, some women will receive radiation therapy only at the tumor site following a lumpectomy, said investigators from the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project and the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group.
"This study will allow us to find out whether partial breast irradiation following lumpectomy provides equivalent local tumor control and survival compared to conventional whole breast irradiation in the local management of early-stage breast cancer," Dr. Frank Vicini, the study's lead protocol chairman, said in a prepared statement.
Three thousand women will participate in the study from about 150 sites in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.
To find a participating site in the United States, call the National Cancer Institute's Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER. In Canada, check out the Canadian Cancer Society's Cancer Information Service.
More information
The American Cancer Society has more about radiation treatment for breast cancer.
