Radiation therapy is one of the common treatments for breast cancer. High energy X-rays or protons are used to kill cancer cells. If the cells are growing too fast, radiation therapy works best.

External radiation therapy is where a machine delivers radiation to the breast. This is the most commonly used therapy for breast cancer.

Internal radiation therapy is another procedure used to treat breast cancer. During surgery for breast cancer, the doctor places radiation delivery devices in your breast. For short periods the device is activated and the radioactive source is delivered to the breast.

Radiation therapy is most effective when used after surgery, and if there are signs of a relapse.

Lumpectomy and radiation therapy

Whole breast radiation for the entire breast is done after a lumpectomy. Larger doses are given in shorter periods in contrast to longer cycles that were prevalent earlier. This shorter cycle is normally completed in about three weeks.

Partial breast radiation is done if breast cancer is in its initial stages. Radiation is conducted only on that part where surgery was done. For a smaller area, internal radiation can also be done for shorter durations of time — once a day for three or five days.

Mastectomy and radiation

Even though the entire breast is removed through a mastectomy, the risk of cancer recurring is quite high. Radiation is used in such situations to completely kill any remains of cancer cells. This treatment lasts for a longer time – five days a week for at least five to six weeks.

Advanced breast cancer and radiation

If cancer has not been detected until it has reached an advanced stage and even surgery cannot remove the tumor, radiation therapy helps to shrink the tumor.

Metastatic cancer and radiation

If cancer has spread from the breast to other parts of the body, radiation therapy helps control the spread by shrinking the tumor.

Risk of radiation therapy

Some risks of side effects are mild fatigue, skin issues like itchiness and irritation, skin sensitivity, and swelling of the breast.

A team of radiation oncologists, radiation physicists, radiation therapists, and radiation nurses will attend to you and explain the exact procedure — what to expect and the side effects of radiation therapy. It is not compulsory to stay in the hospital. You can go home once the therapy is complete. The treatment is painless and lasts for about a few minutes, but the entire process might take from 45 minutes to an hour.

Post-treatment follow up
Doctors will ask you to come for frequent follow-ups to check your recovery and for any signs of recurrence. After a cycle of radiation therapy, reach out if you see any unusual symptoms like pain, weight loss or rashes, and bumps in the skin.

Who cannot undergo radiation therapy?

Expectant moms who have been diagnosed with breast cancer cannot undergo radiation. If they have a lumpectomy during pregnancy, the radiation can be done after the child is born. Additionally, women who have been diagnosed with systemic lupus cannot undergo radiation therapy. Radiation therapy, as a rule, is normally administered only once. A person who undergoes radiation therapy for breast cancer once cannot opt for it again in case the cancer comes back.