Ultrahypofractionated Adjuvant Breast Radiation Therapy (± Boost) and Virtual Consultations: Patient Perspectives at 1 Year

Jill Theresa Nicholson; Sinead Cleary; Gemma Farmer; Orla Monaghan; Hannah O' Driscoll; Killian Nugent; Bahareh Khosravi; Eaine Quinlan; Orla McArdle; Fran K Duane

doi:10.1016/j.adro.2024.101668

Ultrahypofractionated Adjuvant Breast Radiation Therapy (± Boost) and Virtual Consultations: Patient Perspectives at 1 Year

Adv Radiat Oncol. 2024 Nov 5;10(1):101668. doi: 10.1016/j.adro.2024.101668. eCollection 2025 Jan.

Authors

Jill Theresa Nicholson^{1

2}, Sinead Cleary¹, Gemma Farmer¹, Orla Monaghan¹, Hannah O' Driscoll¹, Killian Nugent¹, Bahareh Khosravi¹, Eaine Quinlan¹, Orla McArdle^{1

3}, Fran K Duane^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ St. Luke's Radiation Oncology Network, St. Luke's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
² Discipline of Radiation Therapy &Trinity St James's Cancer Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland.
³ Beaumont Cancer Institute, Royal College of Surgeons Ireland, Dublin, Ireland.

Abstract

Purpose: In March 2020, a 1-week ultrahypofractionated adjuvant breast radiation therapy schedule, 26 Gy in 5 fractions, and telehealth were adopted to reduce the risk of COVID-19 for staff and patients. This study describes real-world 1-year late toxicity for ultrahypofractionation (including a sequential boost) and patient perspectives on this new schedule and telehealth workflows.

Methods and materials: Consecutive patients were enrolled between March and August 2020. Patient-reported outcome measures, including the presence of breast pain, swelling, firmness, and others, were recorded using the European Organisation for research and treatment of cancer quality of life questionairre (EORTC QLQ) BR45 at baseline, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year. Virtual teleconferencing without video was used. Patients were invited to use video at 1 year for a physician-based assessment, including breast inspection. Patient-reported experience measures were also collected at 1 year to capture how a shortened schedule and telehealth influenced patient experience.

Results: In total, 121 of 135 patients completed at least 2 assessments, of which 33 (25%) received a sequential boost. The majority of patients reported no toxicity or mild toxicity at all 3 time points: 76% at 3 months, 76% at 6 months, and 82% at 1 year. When comparing 26 Gy in 5 fractions alone versus 26 Gy in 5 fractions followed by a sequential boost, there was no difference in toxicity reported at 1 year. A total of 94% felt supported by the medical team throughout their treatment course using telehealth-only consultations. Only 27% actually agreed to video consultation for the purpose of breast inspection when offered.

Conclusions: Ultrahypofractionated breast radiation therapy leads to acceptable late toxicity at 1 year, even when followed by a hypofractionated tumor bed boost. Patient satisfaction with ultrahypofractionated treatment and virtual consultations without video was high. Further investigation concerning the patient's acceptance of video consultations for a physician-based assessment, including breast inspection, is warranted.