Some cancer patients can safely skip chemo treatments, 2 studies find

This fluorescence-colored microscope image shows a culture of human breast cancer cells. A new study, presented in Chicago at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, suggests that some low-risk breast cancer patients can skip radiation after a lumpectomy. (Ewa Krawczyk / National Cancer Institute via AP)

After surgery, some cancer patients can safely skip radiation or chemotherapy, according to two new studies exploring shorter, gentler cancer care.

One study used a blood test to determine which colon cancer patients could skip chemotherapy after surgery.