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Breast cancer radiation treatment, a relatively simple, effective, and well-tolerated therapy, is delivered using several different techniques. Usually, radiation therapy follows lumpectomy surgery, but it may also be used after a mastectomy. The purpose of radiation therapy is to kill any remaining cancer cells in the area where the tumor was removed, but not damage any surrounding healthy breast tissue. Radiation destroys cancer cells by disrupting their growth. The type of breast cancer radiation treatment used depends on the location, size and type of tumor.
The standard radiation treatment that follows lumpectomy surgery is external beam radiation therapy. A linear accelerator machine is used to direct a high-energy beam of radiation through the skin to the area where the tumor was removed, as well as the surrounding tissue. This procedure is painless and patients often compare it to an x-ray. Breast cancer radiation treatments are given daily, Monday through Friday, for five to seven weeks. Each treatment takes approximately 30 minutes.
Certain types of breast cancer require a special kind of external beam therapy called 3-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D CRT). In simple terms, this means that radiation beams penetrate the body at specific angles. This allows for greater concentration of radiation in the tumor area and less in the surrounding tissues, reducing the potential for cell damage.
For years, these have been the only available breast cancer radiation treatment options. This is now changing. Recent research indicates that shorter, more intense radiation treatment sessions may be as effective as the longer five to seven week regimens. For patients, this is a huge leap forward. Standard breast cancer radiation treatments are extremely inconvenient, especially if a patient does not live close to a treatment facility. It’s not uncommon for patients to drive hours every day to receive radiation treatments.
When it comes to convenience however, it’s hard to beat the new Mammosite® technique, which was cleared for clinical trial by the FDA in 2002. It is the shortest and most convenient breast cancer radiation treatment to date. Unlike external beam radiation therapy, the Mammosite® method treats cancer from the inside. This is done using a radioactive “seed” (much like a grain of rice) that is placed into a fluid-filled balloon implanted inside the breast. The “seed” stays inside of the balloon for 5-10 minutes at each treatment and is then removed. This treatment is given twice each day for five days and then the balloon is removed from the breast. While the five-year results of the initial Mammosite® trials look very promising, it’s too early to know if this technique will produce the same results as standard breast cancer radiation treatments.
Currently, these new treatments are available to a select few breast cancer patients. Availability will increase as the results of clinical trials continue to show that these are effective long term treatments. If interested, talk to your doctor about new breast cancer treatment options that may be available.
Today, the future of breast cancer radiation treatment is unclear. The 2008 Breast Cancer Symposium held in September revealed that effective local therapies, surgery and radiation, are crucial to long-term survival. However, the hope is that eventually systemic therapies, such as drugs, will be so good that local therapies, including radiation, will no longer be needed. For now, researchers continue to look for new ways to improve the effectiveness and safety of breast cancer radiation treatments.
DISCLAIMER: The information and products on this website are in no way intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any cancer related illness, disease or condition whatsoever. Anyone looking for medical advice needs to contact a Licensed physician. Please read the disclaimer below for more information
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