Schedule for Breast Cancer Radiation Therapy
The usual schedule for
breast cancer radiation therapy is 5 days a week for 5 to 6 weeks. The actual treatment, given by a radiation therapist, takes only a few minutes each day. Sometimes, an additional "boost" or higher dose of radiation is given to the area where the cancer was found.
During your first visit for radiation treatment planning, your chest area will be marked with ink or with a few long-lasting tattoos. These marks must stay on your skin during the entire treatment period because they show exactly where the radiation will be given.
Your radiation oncologist will plan your specific treatment based on a physical exam, mammograms, pathology and lab reports, and your medical history. Doctors carefully limit both the intensity of each treatment and the area being treated so that the least amount of normal tissue will be affected.
Throughout your therapy, your radiation oncologist will check on the effects of your treatment, and you will have regular physical exams and blood tests to check your general health. To get the full benefit from breast cancer radiation therapy, you need to complete all your treatments as scheduled.
Types of Breast Cancer Radiation
Doctors use two types of radiation therapy to treat breast cancer. Some women receive both types.
External Radiation
In external radiation, the radiation comes from a large machine outside the body. Most women go to a hospital or clinic for treatment. Treatments are usually 5 days a week for several weeks.
Internal Radiation (Implant Radiation)
In internal radiation (also called implant radiation), thin plastic tubes (implants) that hold a radioactive substance are put directly into the breast. The implants stay in place for several days. A woman stays in the hospital while she has implants. Doctors remove the implants before she goes home.
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