The NCCN's newest guidelines recommend an oncologist consider not recommending radiation for women over 70 with certain early stage breast cancers. I think, but don't know, that the revised guideline reflects the fact that certain cancers grow more slowly in older women and can be adequately treated with drugs. The NCCN is continually revising guidelines for certain cancers in an effort to correct from what it now considers 'over treatment' in the past.