What rates of radiation-induced secondary malignancies do you typically quote to patients in their 30s-40s?
It seems that we have increasingly been seeing younger patients with breast and rectal cancers. What rates of radiation-caused secondary malignancy do you typically quote to your young breast or GI patients? Do the numbers differ depending on body site you are treating or age (e.g. <40 vs. >50 or 60)?
Answer from: Radiation Oncologist at Academic Institution
For breast cancer, in consults with young women under 40, I generally say there may be a 1-2% chance of long term secondary malignancy (but these are also generally higher risk patients who will derive more benefit from RT). Those who are 50-60 I tell them the chance is maybe 1/1000 or less, and tho...
Answer from: Radiation Oncologist at Community Practice
I have been quoting this meta-analysis to my breast patients.They determined the absolute risk increase from breast radiation for secondary lung cancer was 0.3% in non-smokers and 4% in smokersTaylor C et al, Estimating the Risks of Breast Cancer Radiotherapy: Evidence From Modern Radiation Doses to...
What about patients who are active tobacco users? ...