Shortened radiotherapy sessions are already in place in some hospitals in France. These new treatments are a real saving of time and energy. But be careful, not all women with breast cancer can benefit from it for the moment.
On the occasion of the annual Pink October campaign, women are encouraged to get tested regularly to anticipate potential breast cancer. Although the death rate decreases over the years, this disease still causes more than 12,000 deaths per year according to the National Public Health Agency. To fight the deadliest cancer in women, the medical profession continues to develop its research. Shorter and therefore less heavy treatments would be used more and more to cure some women reported Nice Matin, this Friday, October 8. This new medical means is radiotherapy “compact”, spread over a few sessions, after the operation. But be careful, not all women with breast cancer can benefit from this technique.
This novelty, as effective as the long treatment, is intended for women over 60 years of age with “localized cancer without lymph node involvement”, after Nice Matin. The shortening of treatments was implemented thanks to the publication of two English studies, proving that the reduction in radiotherapy time has absolutely no impact on the risk of relapse. Some hospitals in France began this care in February, like Gustave Roussy, in Villejuif. These discoveries are essential since many women will see their health less weakened by benefiting from less heavy and physically exhausting treatment. Dr Sofia Rivera, head of the radiotherapy department at Gustave Roussy, confirmed the importance of this progress since the health crisis: “In times of Covid, it seemed particularly relevant to have women come to the hospital for as short a time as possible.”
A financial obstacle
This new treatment is doubly beneficial: “We save time for patients, for them it is both physical and psychological”, added Dr Sofia Rivera. For now, the entire medical profession applauds the reduction in the number of radiotherapy sessions. However, there is still a debate: the financial approach. Indeed, radiotherapy would be paid per session. It is therefore much more profitable for establishments to schedule around twenty sessions rather than five. Thomas Bachelot, president of the “breast group” of Unicancer, explained: “It pushes to offer a lot of sessions, especially in the private sector.” But the medical profession has not said its last word. The next few months will be decisive in finding a solution: “We are now fighting to try to obtain fixed price pricing”, added Dr Sofia Rivera.