Hayes' study consisted of 2,581 women with early-stage breast cancer treated at Fox Chase Cancer Center with lumpectomy, axillary-node dissection and radiation between 1970 and 2005. A total of 2,174 patients (84%) were treated with radiation to the breast alone, 221patients (8.6%) were treated to the breast and supraclavicular lymph nodes (those above the collar bone) while 184 patients (7.1%) received an additional boost of radiation to the axillary nodes. The median follow-up was 81 months.
"The most striking result we found involved women who had more than four positive lymph nodes," explained Hayes. "They were four times more likely to develop lymphedema when treated with a boost, despite similar risks of nodal recurrences.
"Given the increased risk of lymphedema and the lack of evidence supporting improvements in nodal recurrences from the boost, we should carefully consider these results before delivering a boost to our patients," Hayes concluded.
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