Breast Cancer and Radiation therapy:

ByDr. Rajiv Dahiya

Breast cancer is a disease where the breast cells start to grow uncontrollably, creating a tissue mass called a tumor. It is the second most common cancer diagnosed in females. The risk of breast cancer increases with age, increasing the possibility of developing breast cancer after the age of 50. Women with a history of breast cancer in their families are genetically at a higher risk of developing breast cancer.

Radiation therapy for breast cancer:

Breast cancer is treated through surgery, radiotherapy, or a combination of both. Radiation is the treatment that involves the shrinking or hindering the growth of cancer cells by targeting the cancerous tissue. Based on the stage, location, type of cancer, radiation therapy for breast cancer is of different types:

  1. External beam whole-breast irradiation; Beam of high radiation is applied to the whole breast for a period of time
  2. External beam partial breast; 3D Conformal radiation, IMRT
  3. Brachytherapy; internal radiation, where a radioactive seed is implanted into the tumor site and emits radiation to shrink the surrounding cancerous tissue.
  4. Intraoperative

Dr. Rajiv Dahiya, your board-certified radiation oncologist will decide which therapy is best for you, based on a number of factors that include, the number of lymph nodes involved, the shape, location, grade, and stage of the tumor, and other factors such as your age.

3-D conformal therapy

3D conformal radiation therapy is a cancer radiotherapy treatment where the beam of the radiation matches the exact shape of the tumor. In the past, the radiation beams only matched the two dimensions of the tumorous mass which were the height and the width. Contrary to the 2D radiation treatment, 3D conformal radiotherapy allows us to precisely deliver the radiation to the cancer cells while avoiding the surrounding healthy tissue.

Process of radiation

The first step to prepare you for 3-D conformal radiotherapy is the radiation planning session, also called the simulation session. With the help of advanced imaging technology, a 3D image of your tumor is recorded. Imaging methods used are:

  • CT (computed tomography) scan.
  • MRI (magnetic resonance imaging).
  • PET (positron emission tomography) scan.
  • PET-CT scan.

These records are used by the therapist to make a custom-fit mold to be used during the treatment. The 3D image is also analyzed through a computer program to develop a radiation beam delivery system according to the shape of the tumor.

During the treatment session, you will lie down in the mold on the X-ray table. The radiation beams will enter and exit the area precisely targeting the tumor. The session will take about 30 minute’s total.

Dr. Rajiv Dahiya will help you develop a treatment schedule, including the number of sessions per week and the follow-up sessions at 6 weeks, every 3 months for one year, every 4 months for the next year, and every 6 months for 3 years, and then annually.

Outcomes

Outcomes are excellent for early stage disease and according to the American Cancer Society (ACS), Stage 1 localized breast cancer after comprehensive treatment shows an excellent outcome of a 100% five-year survival rate. Even for stage 2 breast cancer, the five-year survival rate was recorded to be 93% for women who completed treatment.

Even so, going through treatment for breast cancer can be challenging. Side effects are common, especially with chemotherapy, and fatigue as well as skin reaction are sometimes seen.

References

Sisler, J et al (2016). Follow-up after treatment for breast cancer: Practical guide to survivorship care for family physicians. Canadian family physician Medecin de famille canadien, 62(10), 805–811.

American Cancer Society: “Survival Rates for Breast Cancer,” “Cancer Facts & Figures 2020,” “Breast Cancer Facts & Figures 2019-2020.”

 

You can contact Dr. Rajiv Dahiya at www.rajivdahiyamd.com for more information.