Elías Gomis Sellés, Fernando Picón García, Óscar Muñoz Muñoz, Blas David Delgado León, Patricia Cabrera Roldán, Manuel Borrego Reina, José Luis López Guerra
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Purpose: The healthcare system contributes approximately 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, yet the environmental impact of radiotherapy treatments remains inadequately assessed.
Material and methods: We selected all breast cancer patients (1959 patients) treated with adjuvant radiotherapy between 2015 and 2023 in one institution. We analyzed the CO2 emissions associated with travel. We also selected 60 patients randomly to analyze treatment-associated carbon emissions. We compared three different fractionation schemes: normofractionation (25-30 fractions, fx), hypofractionation (15-18fx), and ultra-hypofractionation (5-6fx).
Results: Our study revealed a significant reduction in carbon emissions within the 5-fractions group compared to the 15-fractions group (26.69kg vs 57.13kg, p < 0.001), saving approximately the CO2 emissions associated with the electricity consumption of an average Spanish household for 12 days, or the emissions of a passenger flying from Madrid to Barcelona.
Conclusion: Most of the carbon footprint of radiotherapy is due to travel. Hypofractionation could be an appropriate solution to protect the environment.
期刊介绍：
Clinical and Translational Oncology is an international journal devoted to fostering interaction between experimental and clinical oncology. It covers all aspects of research on cancer, from the more basic discoveries dealing with both cell and molecular biology of tumour cells, to the most advanced clinical assays of conventional and new drugs. In addition, the journal has a strong commitment to facilitating the transfer of knowledge from the basic laboratory to the clinical practice, with the publication of educational series devoted to closing the gap between molecular and clinical oncologists. Molecular biology of tumours, identification of new targets for cancer therapy, and new technologies for research and treatment of cancer are the major themes covered by the educational series. Full research articles on a broad spectrum of subjects, including the molecular and cellular bases of disease, aetiology, pathophysiology, pathology, epidemiology, clinical features, and the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of cancer, will be considered for publication.
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