Findings of a recently conducted study have shown that breast cancer patients who went for a shorter course of more intense radiation were found to have a better quality of life after treatment as compared to those who receive a longer course of less intense treatment. The study was published in the JAMA Oncology journal.

Dr. Simona Shaitelman, an assistant professor of Radiation Oncology at the University of Texas, said in a statement that earlier women were afraid to undergo this shorter treatment because of the fear of side-effects. But this study suggest that women who opt for the shorter course radiations have higher benefits and also suffers less side effects.

Researchers noted that out of 287 women who participated in the study, 30% had fewer incidents of dermatitis, 19% experienced less breast irritation, and 31% had less toxic effects as compared to those who receive longer treatments.

According to co-author Dr. Benjamin Smith, the shorter course of treatment should be the preferred cure for the patients who need to undergo breast radiation.

“This study fills in a missing piece in the literature. No longer do I regard the shorter course of treatment as just an option for patients, but rather the preferred starting point for discussion with patients if they need whole breast radiation”, said Benjamin.

As per experts, breast cancer starts off in the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply them with milk. A malignant tumor can spread to other parts of the body.

According to the National Cancer Institute, nearly 32,340 female breast cancers and 2,240 male breast cancers are documented in the United States every year.