Breast Radiation Therapy
Once a breast cancer has been removed by lumpectomy, the surrounding remaining
breast tissue is generally exposed.
Radiation therapy is a cancer treatment option that uses high-energy radiation
to shrink tumors and destroy cancer cells. The radiation may be delivered
by a machine outside the body or it may come from radioactive material
placed in the body near cancer cells. Radiation therapy is seldom the
entire treatment and is generally coordinated with surgery.
Consultation & Planning
When radiation therapy is determined to be an important component of your
treatment, you will first meet with a Hoag Radiation Oncologist for a
consultation discussing the details of your diagnosis, including stage,
location and size. These details will help determine the radiation type
that is best for you.
Utilizing sophisticated planning computers and software, Hoag’s
medical physicists will then use the data to develop a three dimensional
treatment plan, specifically tailored for you. This map of your tumor
site allows the radiation oncology team to identify the specific area
to treat, while sparing healthy tissue.
Hoag Radiation Oncology is the highest volume provider in Orange County,
offering the largest and latest selection in radiation technology so you
are in good hands.
Some of the most progressive options available for breast cancer patients include:
3D Conformal Radiation Therapy (3DCRT)
- 3DCRT offers advanced three dimensional (width, height and depth) imaging,
providing radiation oncologists the ability to plan treatment more specifically.
The process starts with a CT scan, providing a three dimensional picture
of the patient’s body, including the tumor. Using this picture as
a map, the radiation oncologist identifies a target to be treated and
areas to be avoided. Each beam is shaped to deliver the maximum dose possible
to the target, while avoiding surrounding sensitive structures.
IORT (Intra-operative Radiation Therapy)
-
IORT is a new technique where a concentrated dose of radiation is delivered
to a cancer tumor site during surgery after the tumor is removed. This
eliminates the need for several weeks of radiation treatment.
Learn more.
Mammosite® Brachytherapy
- An innovative treatment option offered to certain early-stage breast cancer
patients in conjunction with a lumpectomy. Using this method, a concentrated
dose of radiation is delivered only to the lumpectomy site and immediately
adjacent tissues. This provides a more rapid method of radiation therapy
with fewer side effects.
Hoag Radiation Oncology
Hoag’s Radiation Oncology Program is committed to quality and precision in radiation breast cancer
treatment. The remodeled entire first floor of the Cancer Center is dedicated
to radiation oncology, where a highly specialized team of medical experts
deliver the latest in leading radiation therapies, as listed above.
Learn more about our comprehensive team here.