Reducing radiotherapy after breast cancer surgery
Take part in a focus group and share your views on a clinical trial investigating whether radiotherapy is still needed after surgery in patients who had a complete response to chemotherapy beforehand.
What’s the title of the study?
ORBITS (Omission of Radiotherapy for Breast cancer In patients who have complete response to neoadjuvant Treatment at Surgery)
What’s the project about?
Chemotherapy is becoming a lot more effective, and a lot of people with early breast cancer now have it before surgery. Patients who have a complete response to chemotherapy have better long-term outcomes.
Most people who’ve had a complete response to chemotherapy before surgery will also have radiotherapy to reduce the risk the cancer returning. However, lots of people experience side effects of radiotherapy which can continue to cause issues for them over time.
Researchers are planning a clinical trial to investigate whether patients with early breast cancer who have a complete response to chemotherapy still need radiotherapy, or if it could be safely omitted. They’re holding an online focus group to hear your views on the trial.
Who’s organising it?
Name of project lead: Liz Southgate
Job title: Senior Trial Coordinator
Organisation: University of Birmingham
Email address: e.m.southgate@bham.ac.uk
Phone number: 01214 143 604
Who can take part?
The focus group is open to anyone who’s had treatment for breast cancer.
Why do you want me to be involved?
By taking part in the focus group you’ll help the researchers address any questions or concerns you raise. This will help make sure that the trial is acceptable to future participants.
What will you ask me to do?
The researchers would like to invite you to an online focus group on Tuesday 29 September from 1 to 3pm.
There will be around 15 participants and some staff from the Cancer Research UK Clinical Trials Unit. At the focus group, you’ll hear a little bit about the trial and its progress so far. You’ll then be able to ask questions. The researchers would also like your input into the design and statistics of the trial.
How do I get involved?
If you’d like to take part, or have any questions, please email Liz at e.m.southgate@bham.ac.uk, or call her on 01214 143 604.
When’s the deadline?
25 September 2026
Get involved
Attend the focus group and help researchers design a trial that is relevant to and beneficial for patients undergoing breast cancer treatment.