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Thousands of Women Who Undergo Radiotherapy for Low-Risk Breast Cancer Could be Spared Some of the Side Effects – ICR

icr.ac.uk

Jul 16, 2025, 03:30

Thousands of Women Who Undergo Radiotherapy for Low-Risk Breast Cancer Could be Spared Some of the Side Effects – ICR

The Institute of Cancer Research shared a post on LinkedIn:

“News:
Thousands of women who undergo radiotherapy for low-risk Breast Cancer every year could be spared some of the side effects of treatment after the Import Low trial confirmed that more targeted treatments are just as effective at controlling the disease in the long term.

Long-term findings of the study, which was led by The Institute of Cancer Research, London, and the University of Cambridge, have shown that limiting radiation to only the tumour area is just as effective as treating the whole breast, therefore reducing radiation exposure.

Dr Fay Cafferty, Lead Statistician at the ICR, and a co-author of the study, said:

‘The 10-year findings from the Import Low trial are crucial in reinforcing the long-term safety and effectiveness of partial breast radiotherapy for women with early breast cancer. Long-term data is vital to ensure we know there’s no greater risk of breast cancer returning after this targeted radiotherapy treatment. This latest analysis confirms that partial breast radiotherapy remains a safe and effective treatment option, supporting its continued adoption as the standard of care in the UK and globally.’

Hilary Stobart (pictured below) was diagnosed with ER-Positive breast cancer in December 2008 which revealed a two-centimetre tumour in her left breast. She underwent wide local excision surgery and was then offered the chance to take part in the Import Low trial.

‘Ten years on, I am doing fine. I have no side effects and no recurrence of disease. I know that I was lucky enough back then to have had the best treatment, a treatment that other women will be routinely offered now. I am excited to have been part of a trial that has made a noticeable difference to the way in which breast cancer patients are treated now and in the future.’

Read more about the Import Low trial here.”

ICR