Grant: Operating Grant

Breast irradiation is normally given following breast conserving surgery to reduce high risk of cancer recurrence and to prevent the need for mastectomy. Breast irradiation is currently given for 3 to 5 weeks and is associated with fatigue, irradiation of the skin, firmness of the breast, and pain, which can have a significant impact on quality of life. In order to improve the convenience and quality of life for patients who receive breast irradiation, investigators have evaluated short accelerated radiation therapy schedules lasting only one week. Radiation is delivered only to the surgical site and appears to be well tolerated. The purpose of this study is to determine if this approach called accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) delivered in one week is as effective as whole breast irradiation (WBI) delivered in 3 to 6 weeks in women with early breast cancer. The primary outcome of the study is recurrence of cancer in the breast. Important secondary outcomes are treatment morbidity and quality of life. As of 25Feb2011, 1938 of a total 2128 patients have been entered at 28 centres across Canada, 4 Australian Centres and 1 New Zealand centre. If APBI is equally effective to current techniques, this will permit Canadian women with breast cancer to be treated in a short period of time at similar or less cost. Such an approach will benefit both women with breast cancer and the cancer system.