May 24, 2000

New Canadian Study on Breast Cancer Treatment May Reduce Treatment Waiting Lists
May 24, 2000

Toronto, May 24 /CNW/ - A new study presented yesterday by Dr. Timothy Whelan, a radiation oncologist from the Hamilton Regional Cancer Centre in Ontario, at the American Society of Clinical Oncology conference in New Orleans, showed that treating women with breast cancer utilizing 16 slightly larger radiation treatments is equally effective as the current use of 25 smaller radiation treatments, in terms of local control of the disease.

"By receiving the same effective dose but over a shorter period of time, women will be able to shorten their course of daily radiation treatments by nearly two weeks. This will lessen the burden for women coping with breast cancer treatment", states Dr. Whelan. Radiation oncologists in Ontario collaborated on this breast cancer treatment study which was the largest study of its kind done in Canada.

Dr. Robert Pearcey, President of the Canadian Association of Radiation Oncologists (CARO), stated that, "All Canadian radiation oncologists are now embarking on an even larger study with the National Cancer Institute of Canada to see if radiation treatment to the lymph nodes of the breast in addition to the breast itself, improves survival for those patients who choose breast conserving surgery (do not choose to have a mastectomy). Should the new cross-Canada study on breast nodal irradiation prove not to provide additional benefit, then breast cancer patients could be spared the side effects of this more extensive treatment. It would also, hopefully, assist cancer treatment centres across Canada to move additional patients from waiting lists onto active treatment to better meet the CARO standard of cancer treatment with 4 weeks of referral".

"With unacceptable long waiting lists across Canada for cancer patients to access radiation treatment, the members of the Canadian Association of Radiation Oncologists are continuing their efforts to improve patient treatment outcomes, to further optimize the usage of limited resources, and thereby, hopefully help to lessen patient waiting times for radiation treatment", states Dr. Pearcey.

Long waiting lists for cancer patients to access radiation treatment are a function of on-going and combined critical shortages of radiation oncologists (cancer specialists), medical radiation therapists (cancer treatment professionals) and medical radition physicists, as well as insufficient funding.

The Canadian Association of Radiation Oncologists is the official voice of radiation oncology in Canada. Studies on optimum cancer treatment are part of their research activities and their concern for the public interest.

On June 1st, 2000, CARO launches its web-site (www.caro-acro.ca) for oncology professionals and patient/public information. Information about the breast cancer treatment study will be posted on the web-site for the public.

For further information, contact:
Dr. Robert Pearcey,
MA, MBBS, FRCR, FRCPC,
President, Canadian Association of Radiation Oncologists,
Cross Cancer Institute,
11560 University Avenue,
Edmonton, Alberta,
T8G 1Z2,
telephone (780)432-8749,
fax (780)432-8380.