Radiation

Radiation therapy treats breast cancer by using targeted, high-energy rays of radiation to kill cancer cells. For women with breast cancer, radiation therapy is almost never used alone, but rather in combination with surgery. Its purpose is to destroy any cancer remaining in the breast or surrounding tissue after surgery. This is particularly important with breast conserving surgery such as lumpectomy, since so much of the breast tissue is left intact.

Many women who have a mastectomy do not need radiation therapy. However, in some cases, radiation is used after mastectomy to treat the chest wall and the axillary lymph nodes in the underarm.

Radiation therapy after surgery is an option for women who have ductal carcinoma in situ, early stage breast cancer, locally advanced breast cancer or inflammatory breast cancer. However, not all women with these types of cancer are eligible for this treatment. Certain medical conditions can make radiation therapy dangerous for a patient, including:

• A history of scleroderma or systemic lupus. These conditions can prevent tissue from healing properly after breast conserving surgery and radiation.

• Pregnancy. Radiation therapy can harm a fetus. If a woman is in her third trimester, she can have surgery and wait until after delivery to have radiation therapy.

• Previous radiation therapy to the affected breast. In general, radiation therapy can only be given once to a particular area.

In most cases, women who have breast implants made of saline or silicone are eligible for radiation therapy. However, implants can make radiation therapy planning more complex, and the implants may also shrink after radiation therapy, leading to a worse cosmetic result.