NICE recommends controlled intrabeam use for breast cancer after three year delay

Intrabeam radiotherapy, a single dose treatment for people with early breast cancer, can be used in a controlled way while further data on its effectiveness are collected, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended.1

NICE’s independent appraisal committee said it was not certain that this targeted radiotherapy is as effective as conventional radiotherapy in preventing the recurrence of breast cancer. However, the committee heard that the risk of local recurrence is low in the patients receiving intrabeam treatment.

The guidance acknowledges that the treatment offers many advantages to patients and recommends advising patients about the treatment options available so that they can make an informed choice.

In July 2014 NICE published virtually identical draft guidance, which …