Late cardiac morbidity and mortality in early-stage breast cancer patients after breast-conservation treatment. Clinical Oncology

摘要

To the Editor: Harris et al have to be commended for their efforts in analyzing the medical records of 961 patients who received radiation therapy (RT) for early breast cancer. They found an increased risk of morbidity for ischemic heart disease after RT for left-sided cancer compared with right-sided RT, especially after more than 10 years post-treatment. There was a trend for increased mortality but their study must have been underpowered to detect a significant mortality difference. Their findings are consistent with some, although, not all previous trials, and I agree with Recht who points out in his editorial6 that it is difficult to know which patients should really worry about this problem.