Breast irradiation is dangerous and should be avoided

A woman returns from mammography with minuscule tumor. Since she checks her breasts annually tumor  appeared within last year. Yet it was born several years ago. Until now it was too small to be detected. Mammography thus is a snapshot of an ongoing process which started years ago.

I discuss two EBCTCG studies which evaluated the prospects of this woman
Tumor is not an isolated phenomenon. The entire breast is speckled with dysplastic foci some of which evolve into in situ carcinomas. Neoplasia is an evolving field with a tumor at its center. In 30% of these women tumor was removed yet the field  continued evolving producing recurrent disease.

We ought to abandon the old notion regarding neoplasia as a local phenomenon which spreads out. In 30% of mammography's, a (clinically)  early detection does not  detect a localized tumor even if it is very small.

Some women live with recurrent cancer 15  years! In some, tumor may has recurred (surfaced) several times. In others tumor  recurred only once, after  fifteen years. For them cancer is a chronic disease.

Tamoxifen does not cure cancer. It only induces and prolongs cancer remission (dormancy).

Irradiation differs inherently from any other  treatment. While aromasin induced estrogen deficiency is reversible, irradiation damage is  irreversible. Each quantum of x-rays, irreversibly destroys tissues and cells.

Clinical radiation pneumonitis is an interstitial pulmonary inflammation that can develop in as many as 5-15% of patients receiving thoracic irradiation. Radiation pneumonitis is a medically induced (iatrogenic) disease. . It ought to be forbidden. Radiation diminishes cancer recurrence and does not improve survival!.

Women with clinically localized disease, require solely breast conserving therapy. Do not attempt to prevent cancer recurrence. Treat only during relapse.