Radiation Therapy for Breast Cancer

Treating Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is often cured by timely application of appropriate treatment that may involve surgery, radiation therapy, drug therapy (chemotherapy and/or hormone blocking therapy) or a combination of these.

• Surgery is necessary for all patients with breast cancer and will involve one of two major approaches:
  • Removal of the breast. This is called a mastectomy.
  • Removing just the tumor. This is called breast conservation therapy. It is also called a lumpectomy as only the cancerous lump is removed.
• Surgery is also necessary to assess for possible spread of the cancer to nearby lymph nodes.
• Additional treatments beyond surgery are often necessary. Your treatment team will assess your risk that your cancer may return or spread.
• Several factors are part of this assessment including your age, menopausal status, other medical conditions, tumor type, tumor size and number, tumor grade (i.e., how malignant does the cancer look under the microscope), the scope of the surgery, surgical margins (i.e., how close was the cancer to the edge of the tissue removed by surgery), lymph node involvement, hormone receptors, and other tests.
  • Chemotherapy with anticancer drugs or hormone blocking drugs may be indicated after surgery. A medical oncologist, a physician skilled in the use of prescribing powerful medications for treating cancer, will help you make this assessment.
  • Radiation therapy will often have an important role after surgery as well. A radiation oncologist, a physician specially trained to use radiation treatments, will help you decide if you need radiation therapy.