Journal of the National Cancer Institute
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J. Natl. Cancer Inst. · Mar 2005
Meta AnalysisRisk of cardiac death after adjuvant radiotherapy for breast cancer.
Women with breast cancer who are treated with adjuvant radiation have a decreased risk of local recurrence but an increased risk of mortality from ischemic heart disease. Patients with left-sided breast tumors receive a higher dose of radiation to the heart than patients with right-sided tumors. Because radiation techniques have improved over time, we investigated whether the risk of death from ischemic heart disease after adjuvant breast radiotherapy decreased over time. ⋯ Risk of death from ischemic heart disease associated with radiation for breast cancer has substantially decreased over time.