By Amy Forni, Director of External Communications
04/14/2021
NORWALK, Connecticut, April 15, 2021 — Norwalk Hospital opened a clinical trial to study the safety and effectiveness of partial breast accelerated radiation therapy for women with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) or early-stage invasive breast cancer after lumpectomy.
Clinical trial patients will receive the same total dose of radiation as the standard treatment only in higher doses per session because it will be delivered over just three days.
Women with DCIS or early-stage invasive breast cancer who had a lumpectomy usually receive radiation therapy to the whole breast over three weeks or partial breast irradiation over a five- to ten-day period.
In addition to fewer treatments, clinical trial patients will have partial breast radiation rather than full breast, which may preserve more healthy tissue.
The aim of the clinical trial is to determine how well patients tolerate the accelerated treatment and how effective it is at preventing cancer from recurring.
This new clinical trial for breast cancer aligns with the evolution of radiation oncology to offer patients effective treatments faster so they can get back to their lives sooner. For example, prostate cancer can now be treated in five sessions versus 45, lung cancer in three sessions versus 30 and bone metastasis in one session versus 10.
Women age 45 and older diagnosed with DCIS or early-stage invasive breast cancer measuring less than three centimeters that can be removed with lumpectomy may be eligible for the clinical trial.
Clinical trial patients will not only have access to a new treatment for breast cancer, but also the full care team and support services at Norwalk Hospital’s C. Anthony and Jean Whittingham Cancer Center.
Women who think they may be eligible or physicians referring their patients to the clinical trial can call (203) 739-7997.
CONTACT
Amy Forni, Manager, Public Relations
(203) 739-7478 | Amy.Forni@nuvancehealth.org