Radiation Therapy for Breast Cancer in Columbia, SC
What is Radiation Therapy for Breast Cancer?
Radiation therapy is treatment with high-energy rays that fight and eliminate cancer cells for women with breast cancer. Radiation therapy targets cancer cells in the breast, chest wall, or regional lymph nodes. This helps to reduce the risk of recurrence and improves the long-term survival outcomes for breast cancer.
If you’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer, South Carolina Oncology Associates may recommend radiation in addition to other treatment methods.
To see if radiation therapy is right for you, contact South Carolina Oncology Associates today to schedule a consultation with a board-certified oncologist. Give us a call at (803) 461-3000 to get started, or request an appointment through our secure online form.
What Type of Radiation is Used for Breast Cancer?
What type of radiation depends on your unique situation. As you consult with your doctor, you will find the right treatment for you to help fight cancer and lessen your future risk.
The main types of radiation therapy that can be used to treat breast cancer are:
- External beam radiation therapy – delivers radiation in focused beams from a machine to the affected breast or chest wall. This usually involves daily treatments over the course of several weeks, but each session only lasts a few minutes. This is the most common type of radiation for women with breast cancer.
- Brachytherapy – this places the radioactive sources directly within or near the tumor site using special catheters or applicators into the breast tissue area.
- Adjuvant Radiation Therapy – administered following breast-conserving surgery (lumpectomy) or mastectomy, to eradicate residual cancer cells and reduce the risk of local recurrence.
- Neoadjuvant Radiation Therapy – may be delivered prior to surgery to downsize tumors, facilitate breast-conserving surgery, and improve surgical outcomes.
Radiation Situations
Radiation oncologists tailor treatment to your needs and preferences. Which areas need radiation depends on if you had surgery or what type of cancer you have. Radiation to the entire affected breast is called whole breast radiation.
Radiation therapy may be administered in either the adjuvant or neoadjuvant setting, depending on the stage, size, and characteristics of the breast cancer.
Factors to consider may include:
- Tumor size
- Subtype
- Lymph node involvement
- Genetics
- Patient preferences
- Treatment options
- Therapy preferences
- Medical history
Radiation After Surgery?
After your surgery you may need external beam radiation. This is normally not done until the original surgery site has healed. Radiation is also usually delayed if you are undergoing chemotherapy.
Radiation After Mastectomy?
If you’ve had a mastectomy, or surgical removal of the breast, you can expect the following:
- If the cancer was larger than 5 cm, radiation is recommended
- Radiation is focused on the chest wall, scar, and where any drains exited the body
- If cancer is found in the lymph nodes, radiation is recommended
Radiation for Metastatic Breast Cancer?
If cancer has spread to other parts of the body, such as the bones, spinal cord, or brain it is considered metastatic and may require radiation.
Radiation for Locally Advanced Breast Cancer?
For LABC, where the tumor is confined to a limited portion of the breast, accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) may be an option instead of whole-breast radiation. APBI delivers focused radiation directly to the tumor, reducing treatment duration and minimizing radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissues.
What is the Result of Radiation Therapy?
Radiation therapy harnesses the power of high-energy X-rays or other forms of ionizing radiation to target and destroy cancer cells while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissues.
Radiation therapy represents a powerful tool in the fight against breast cancer, offering new hope and healing.
Benefits of radiation therapy for breast cancer may include:
- Reducing the risk of local recurrence
- Minimizes tumor regrowth
- Reduces risk of surrounding tissues
- Improve long-term survival outcomes
- Controls the disease
- Prevents spreading
Schedule Your Appointment Today
Contact SCOA today and take your first step towards breast cancer treatment. Give us a call at (803) 461-3000 to get started, or request an appointment through our secure online form.
Sources
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/breast-cancer/treatment/radiation-for-breast-cancer.html
