Radiation Oncologists are doctors who specialize in treating cancer with high energy x-rays. Your surgeon or medical oncologist will refer you to the radiation oncologist for a consultation to determine your need for radiation treatment.

High energy x-rays are often a very effective method of curing cancer. Radiation therapy can be used to treat all stages of breast cancer after the lump or area has been removed. Following a lumpectomy, wide excision or partial mastectomy, the breast tissue that remains can contain cancer cells. Radiation therapy will eliminate any cancer cells in the remaining breast tissue, as well as the surrounding area. Following a mastectomy, the remaining lymph nodes, skin and chest wall can contain cancer cells and radiation may be recommended.

At Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, there are two types of Radiation Therapies offered for treatment of breast cancer.

External Beam Radiation

External beam radiation is a process by which radiation is delivered to the specific area of the body that has been affected by cancer. Using a computer, the radiation oncologist will measure the correct angles for aiming the radiation beam at the specific area of the body. Precise doses of radiation are then delivered to the tissue and surrounding area. After breast surgery, women are typically treated with radiation therapy for 4-8 weeks in an outpatient setting. Each session, after machine set-up, typically takes 15 minutes.

Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation (APBI)

You may qualify for a new form of radiation treatment for early stage breast cancer that is delivered over a shorter period of time (5 days) than external beam radiation (4-8 weeks). This therapy treats only part of the breast and is an option for many patients with early stage breast cancer. There are two types of APBI.

External Radiation

Multiple small beams of radiation are used to target the lumpectomy site. Only part of the breast is treated and it is non-invasive.

Internal Radiation (Brachytherapy)

This treatment is an invasive procedure where a large plastic catheter or multiple small plastic catheters are inserted in and/or around the lumpectomy site. The ends of the catheter(s) are hooked up to a radiation pellet that will irradiate the part of the breast that has been implanted. Again, only part of the breast is treated.

Talk to your doctor to find out which of these radiation therapies are appropriate for you.