Whelan, division head of radiation oncology at McMaster and the Juravinski Cancer Centre and a Canada Research Chair, expects the results will encourage physicians to offer all women with node-positive disease the option of receiving regional nodal irradiation.

"Adding regional nodal irradiation improved disease-free survival, lowered the risk of recurrences, and there was a positive trend toward improved overall survival, while not greatly increasing toxicities," he said.

"For women with node positive breast cancer who are at high risk of recurrence of their breast cancer, these findings provide an important new treatment option," says Dr. Christine Williams, Director of Research, Canadian Cancer Society. "Ultimately, this finding will help more women survive and thrive after treatment."

Source: McMaster University