Breast Cancer Radiotherapy
High-energy X-rays, protons, or other particles are used in radiation therapy for breast cancer to kill cancer cells. Radiation therapy is more likely to have an adverse effect on cells that are growing quickly, such as cancer cells.
The X-rays or particles don’t hurt and are undetectable. Following treatment, you are no longer radioactive, making it safe to be in close proximity to others, especially children.
Breast cancer can be treated with radiation therapy almost at any stage. A great way to lower your risk of breast cancer coming back after surgery is with radiation therapy. Additionally, it is frequently utilized to reduce the symptoms brought on by cancer that has migrated to other body regions (metastatic breast cancer).
What is external-beam radiation therapy?
External-beam radiation therapy is the most common type of radiation therapy. It delivers radiation from a machine outside the body. It can treat large areas of the body, if needed.
A machine called a linear accelerator, or linac, creates the radiation beam for x-ray or photon radiation therapy. Special computer software adjusts the beam’s size and shape. This helps target the tumor while avoiding healthy tissue near the cancer cells.
Most treatments are given every weekday for several weeks. Form-fitting supports or plastic mesh masks are used for radiation therapy to the head, neck, or brain to help people stay still during treatment.
The types of external-beam radiation therapy are:
Three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT). Detailed 3-dimensional pictures of the cancer are created, typically from computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. This allows the treatment team to aim the radiation therapy more precisely. It often means that they can safely use higher doses of radiation therapy while reducing damage to healthy tissue. This lowers the risk of side effects. For instance, dry mouth is common after radiation therapy for head and neck cancer. But 3D-CRT can limit the damage to the salivary glands that causes dry mouth.
Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). This is a more complex form of radiation. With IMRT, the intensity of the radiation is varied within each field unlike conventional 3D-CRT, which uses the same intensity throughout each beam. IMRT targets the tumor and avoids healthy tissue better than conventional 3D-CRT.
Proton beam therapy. This treatment uses protons rather than x-rays. A proton is a positively charged particle. At high energy, protons can destroy cancer cells. The protons go to the targeted tumor and deposit the specific dose of radiation therapy. Unlike with x-ray beams, there is very little radiation dose beyond the tumor. This limits damage to nearby healthy tissue. Currently, doctors use proton therapy to treat certain types of cancer. This therapy is relatively new and requires special equipment. Therefore, it is not available at every medical center. Learn more about proton therapy.
Image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT). This refers to the practice of using daily images of each treatment field to confirm patient positioning and make sure the target is in the field. These daily images are compared to the images used to plan treatment. IGRT allows your doctor to make each treatment field smaller. This allows better targeting of the tumor and helps reduce damage to healthy tissue.
Stereotactic radiation therapy (SRT). This treatment delivers a large, precise radiation therapy dose to a small tumor area. The patient must remain very still. Head frames or individual body molds help limit movement. SRT is often given as a single treatment or in fewer than 10 treatments. Some patients may need more than one course of SRT.
What is internal radiation therapy?
Internal radiation therapy is also called brachytherapy. This type of radiation therapy is when radioactive material is placed into the cancer or surrounding tissue. Implants may be permanent or temporary and may require a hospital stay.
Types of internal radiation therapy include:
Permanent implants. These are tiny steel seeds that contain radioactive material. The capsules are about the size of a grain of rice. They deliver most of the radiation therapy around the implant area. But some radiation may exit the patient’s body. This requires safety measures to protect others from radiation exposure. Over time, the implants lose radioactivity. And the inactive seeds remain in the body.
Temporary internal radiation therapy. This is when radiation therapy is given in one of these ways:
- Needles
- Tubes, called catheters, that carry fluid in or out of the body
- Special applicators
Dr. Sumit Shah
SURGICAL ONCOLOGIST
DNB(Gen. Surgery), DNB(Surgical Oncology),
Fellowship in Laparoscopic & Robotic Surgery
Dr. Sumit Shah is a highly skilled and experienced Breast Cancer Specialist in Pune. He is dedicated to providing comprehensive breast cancer care to his patients and is known for his compassionate and personalized approach to treatment.
Dr. Shah is one of the best Breast Cancer Doctor in Pune, India, and holds an accredited degree in surgical oncology. He completed a super specialty course at the Cancer Centre Welfare Home and Res. Institute in Kolkata and was recognized as the Best Outgoing Cancer Surgeon from his Institute.
As a Breast Cancer Specialist in Pune, Dr. Shah has extensive knowledge and expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. He uses a multidisciplinary approach to treatment, which involves working closely with a team of experts to provide the best possible care to his patients.