Radiation therapy is commonly used in treating breast cancer. Often it is used after surgery to kill any cancer cells remaining in the breast chest wall or lymph nodes. It may be used in early stage tumors as well as more advanced breast cancer to help reduce the chance of a recurrence. Radiation therapies available at St. Joseph Hospital include intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT), external beam radiation therapy, intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), intraoperative radiation therapy and Mammosite.
- Intraoperative Radiation Therapy (IORT) – IORT has recently emerged as a novel approach to treating breast cancer. St. Joseph of Orange is the first hospital in Orange County to offer this treatment option to patients. IORT is used to significantly reduce radiation treatment time or potentially replace a radiation course altogether. Electron beam radiation is delivered directly to the tumor site at the time of surgery. This allows for the most accurate administration of radiation and can significantly reduce dose to the surrounding healthy tissue. For more information on IORT, click here.
- External beam – This is the most commonly used radiation modality for breast cancer. It is a standard form of radiation used after lumpectomy or mastectomy for various invasive and non-invasive breast cancers. High energy X-rays are produced and focused on the breast, chest wall and underarm areas. 3-D conformal therapy is used to tailor a specific plan to each individual and their disease. These outpatient treatments are given five days a week for six to seven weeks.
- Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) – IMRT is another form of radiation therapy. It sculpts the radiation to match the target (tumor) via pencil-thin beams of radiation. Unique planning methodologies are now available with highly sophisticated software to direct the shape of the radiation beam in order to match that of the tumor and desired surrounding area. This treatment can allow for higher doses to the tumor while avoiding excess dose to the surrounding healthy tissue.
- Mammosite Bracteal – Brachytherapy is another form of radiation therapy for breast cancer. The most commonly used form of breast brachytherapy is Mammosite. A balloon catheter is implanted in the breast tissue following a lumpectomy. A high dose rate (HDR) radioactive source is placed inside the balloon to irradiate the involved area. Treatments are given twice a day for only one week. The balloon catheter is removed after completing the treatment course. This option can significantly reduce treatment duration and toxicity for many breast cancer patients by delivering the radiation to the tumor site while sparing the surrounding healthy tissue.