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The role of radiotherapy in the treatment of young patients with breast carcinoma

Publication at First Faculty of Medicine |
2019

Abstract

Breast carcinoma is the most commonly diagnosed malignancy in women globally. Recently the number of women with the disease developing in young age has been increasing.

In 2016 7,220 women were diagnosed with breast carcinoma, with 139 women under-35 and with 221 cases being reported in the 35-39 age groups. It is quite a small group - less than 2 % in under-35 age group, 5 % out of the total in under-40 age group.

Carcinomas in these women are more aggressive, commonly accompanied by genetic mutation. Quite frequently the diagnosis is made during pregnancy or in the period of breastfeeding.

The best medical outcomes occur when adopting the multidisciplinary approach, with radiotherapy being its integral part. This work was created as a response to new guidelines on breast carcinoma radiation therapy published by the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) in spring 2018.