A new study shows about 70 percent of women with the most common form of early-stage breast cancer can safely skip chemotherapy without hurting their chances of beating the disease.<br /> The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, analyzed how well a widely used genetic test assessed cancer risk, based on 21 genes linked with breast cancer recurrence. <br />It found that an intermediate group of patients could bypass post-surgery chemo and be safely treated with just surgery and hormone therapy.<br />Chemotherapy is often used after surgery to help stop breast cancer from spreading or coming back, but side effects range from hair loss to permanent nerve pain. <br />
