Doctors are advocating the use of radiotherapy, rather than surgery, for treating certain types of cancer. Compared with surgery alone, new therapeutic approaches involving radiotherapy alone or in combination with conservative surgery have led to a higher degree of tissue conservation and organ function, without any detrimental effect on survival. Only preliminary analyses of the study data have been performed, but the researchers involved are encouraged by the findings. Available results from studies in breast and head and neck cancer were presented at the 15th International Meeting of the European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ESTRO) [Vienna, Austria; September 1996].