US women face limited access to cheaper, less invasive breast cancer treatment

Intraoperative radiation therapy, or IORT, gives cancer patients a faster, less expensive, and less invasive alternative to traditional radiation treatment for breast cancer. Still, access to this option in the United States remains limited. The Food and Drug Administration approved IORT in 1999.

The treatment delivers a single dose of radiation to the breast tissue immediately after surgery, unlike whole or partial breast radiation, which often requires multiple sessions and costs more. IORT is not right for every breast cancer patient. It is generally considered a strong option for postmenopausal women diagnosed at an early stage, with very small tumors and no signs of lymph node involvement.

However, breast surgeons told NBC News that IORT is harder to find in the United States because it reduces the income of doctors and hospitals that earn significantly more from traditional radiation treatments. Breast Cancer Treatment: IORT Vs. Radiation According to Medicare estimates from 2022, radiation oncologists who provide IORT receive about $525 per treatment, far less than the $1,300 earned for whole breast radiation over five sessions and the $1,730 generated by 15 sessions.

The financial benefits for hospitals and doctors do not stop there, since patients also pay facility fees for each visit. It’s important to note that breast cancer surgeons are paid the same amount whether patients receive IORT, whole breast irradiation, or partial irradiation. Although IORT has shown similar long-term survival outcomes and avoids the risk of skin burns and serious damage to the heart and lungs, the American Society for Radiation Oncology does not recommend it for patients outside clinical trials.

One concern, according to ASTRO, is the recurrence rate. Research suggests cancer may return slightly more often in patients who receive IORT than in those treated with whole breast irradiation. Even so, countries in Europe, South America, and Asia have been using IORT for more than 20 years.

“This is about money and greed,” Dr. Phillip Ley, director of oncology services at Merit Health Surgical Oncology, told NBC News. RELATED CONTENT: D’Angelo, Neo-Soul Pioneer and Three-Time Grammy Winner, Dies at 51