Radiotherapy (radiation therapy) is a form of treatment performed using X-rays and, like surgery, is applied to achieve local control of the tumor. Radiotherapy is applied in three out of every four cancer patients. Radiotherapy is used before or after surgery, alone as curative (healing) treatment, or together with chemotherapy/systemic treatment.
Who Is It Given To?
If breast-conserving surgery has been chosen, radiotherapy of the remaining breast tissue is definitely necessary. It has been shown that giving radiotherapy after breast-conserving surgery significantly reduces the recurrence of the tumor.
If a mastectomy (removal of the entire breast) has been performed, giving radiotherapy depends on certain rules (for example, the tumor being attached to the chest wall or breast skin, having more than 4 positive lymph nodes in the armpit, etc.)
When Is It Applied?
Radiotherapy should be given within 6 months after breast surgery. A longer delay reduces the chance of success of the procedure.
If chemotherapy is being given during this time, either it is waited to finish or chemotherapy is paused, radiotherapy is given and then chemotherapy continues.
How Does It Work?
Radiation therapy damages the genetic material of the cells in the treated area. In this way it prevents the cells from growing and multiplying. Some cells are directly affected after radiation and die immediately. Other cells lose their ability to multiply as a result of damage to their chromosomes and DNA. Radiation therapy causes damage to both cancer cells and normal cells. Most normal tissues heal after treatment.
What Are the Side Effects?
In patients whose armpit lymph nodes have been cleared, if radiotherapy needs to be given to this area, the risk of swelling in the arm (lymphedema) increases.
It is not recommended that pregnant women receive radiotherapy because of the risk of harming the baby in the womb.
Partial Radiotherapy
Today, in a limited group of patients who must be selected very carefully, radiotherapy can be applied only around the tumor instead of the whole breast. This application can be done after the operation or during the operation (intraoperative radiotherapy).
