Breast Cancer Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy, or radiotherapy, can prolong life and improve its quality by eliminating cancer and relieving symptoms. A majority of breast cancer patients receive high doses of radiation as part of their cancer treatment regimen.

 

Radiation therapy reduces or eliminates cancer cells. It uses high energy x-rays aimed at tumors or parts of the breast that are sites of numerous diseased cells. Radiation damages the cells' DNA so they can no longer reproduce.

Radiation is an important part of breast cancer treatment. Radiation therapy is used prior to surgery to shrink tumors, or following surgery to kill remaining cells. Together with chemotherapy, radiation is effective as a treatment for cancer in its early stages, often eliminating the need for surgery.

Radiation therapy treats secondary breast cancer in the skin, bones and lymph glands, and treats recurring cancer following mastectomy. In palliative care, radiation helps reduce bleeding, relieve pressure and lessen pain and discomfort in breast cancer patients.

External radiation therapy destroys both shallow tumors near the skin and those that are deep-seated. The radiation oncologist determines the frequency of treatments and the dosage.

Intensity modulation radiotherapy (IMRT) is an external treatment consisting of many narrow beams intersecting the tumor. This results in a high dose to the tumor, low dosage to healthy tissue and a low rate of radiation side effects. IMRT permits the treatment of tumors that are complex in shape and of considerable size. One advantage of IMRT is that tumors lying close to vital organs can be treated successfully while minimizing loss of organ function.

When concerned about damage to normal tissues or the length of time required to administer a series of external radiation treatments, the oncologist can use brachytherapy, an internal method of radiation. Breast brachytherapy can take five days instead of the five to seven weeks for external radiation therapy and results in fewer side effects.

In brachytherapy, a radioactive source such as cesium or radium is surgically implanted in or near the tumor for as long as required. This gives high dose radiation directly to the cancer while reducing exposure to normal tissue.

In a new brachytherapy technique, pellets containing the radioactive source are inserted into the breast for a short time on each day of the treatment and then removed so that the patient is able to interact with other people. One big advantage of brachytherapy over surgery is that a woman is able to keep her breast.

Hyperthermia therapy utilizes ultrasound or other frequencies to elevate the temperature of cancer cells in a localized area or region of advanced primary cancer. Hyperthermia may be used after mastectomy where there is a recurrence of the cancer. Hyperthermia is an effective treatment for those cancers that are heat sensitive, and is even more effective when combined with radiation therapy.

While high levels of radiation can damage normal tissues, the strategy behind this treatment is that the overall benefit to the patient will be greater. Breast cancer radiation side effects include local skin irritation such as reddening of the skin and dryness with itching, fatigue, and nausea. Fluid buildup in the tissues (edema) may make the breast feel larger, firmer and/or heavier.

Resources

American Cancer Society. (2004). Radiation therapy for breast cancer.

Cancer Treatment Centers of America. (nd). Breast brachytherapy.

Nissl, J. (updated 2004). Side effects of radiation therapy to the chest.