Study suggests some breast cancer patients facing radiation after a mastectomy may be over-treated

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A new study suggests standard radiation therapy for some breast cancer patients may not be medically required and may, therefore, be causing unnecessary serious side effects such as lymphedema and pulmonary problems. The research conducted at Fox Chase Cancer Center involved women who got a mastectomy, but whose lymph nodes were negative. "When a woman has a tumor greater than five centimeters and negative lymph nodes, a mastectomy followed by radiation is recommended," said Penny Anderson, M.D., attending physician in the radiation oncology department at Fox Chase

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