Breast Brachytherapy: A Shorter Course of Radiation
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 ส.ค. 2024
- We teach you about short-course breast brachytherapy radiation for women who undergo a lumpectomy for early stage breast cancer. This is an option for well-selected patients.
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Questions for your Breast Surgeon and Radiation Oncologist:
1. Am I a candidate for brachytherapy after my lumpectomy?
2. If it is an option, would you recommend it for me?
3. Do you offer brachytherapy?
4. What are the outcomes compared to whole breast radiation?
5. What are the side effects and complications of brachytherapy?
6. What is Brachytherapy?
Brachytherapy, a type of Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation (APBI), is a technique of delivering a more focused radiation dose to the area of a lumpectomy over a shorter time period (one week) compared to whole breast radiation (four to six weeks). This one week course of radiation, applied just to the inside edges of the lumpectomy cavity, treats the areas of the breast that has the highest chance of having residual cancer cells. The goal is to reduce the chance of a “local recurrence.” Less than half of early stage breast cancer patients meet the criteria for brachytherapy. Well selected candidates may choose this option.
Brachytherapy does require an outpatient procedure to place a “brachytherapy catheter device” into the breast. This device usually has a small catheter that exits the breast and is cared for by the patient for about 7 to 10 days.
Who qualifies for brachytherapy radiation?
Brachytherapy is an option for patients who undergo a lumpectomy for early stage cancer who have a number of favorable tumor characteristics. These include a small tumor, favorable receptors, no evidence of cancer in the lymph nodes, and generally women 50 years old and older. Ask your surgeon or radiation oncologist if you meet the specific guidelines they follow.
Why does radiation reduce “local recurrence” of cancer?
Radiation therapy is very effective at killing cancer cells while sparing the normal surrounding tissue. It is generally performed after surgery has removed your breast tumor. If you are going to have a lumpectomy surgery to remove your breast cancer, then you will most likely need radiation to reduce the chance cancer will grow back in the surgical area.
Quite simply, radiation reduces the chance of cancer growing back in the area where the tumor was surgically removed or in nearby areas where the cancer is at risk for recurring in the future. When a “local recurrence” of your cancer does occur, it can be a threat to your life. Radiation reduces this risk of local recurrence, and as a result, may increase your chances at a cancer-free future.
Is “Whole Breast Radiation” the gold standard?
Whole breast radiation involves radiating the entire breast without placing a device inside the breast. It is well tolerated. Most breast radiation is performed with this technique over a 4 to 6-week treatment period. Modern brachytherapy techniques likely will prove to be very similar to whole breast radiation outcomes. Although it is now available in more communities, brachytherapy has its own set of advantages and complications.
What are brachytherapy (APBI) treatment expectations?
Brachytherapy radiation is performed as an outpatient within a dedicated radiation center. It is very well tolerated. A few facts about brachytherapy or accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) are listed below.
Expectations during Brachytherapy
Each treatment takes about 10 minutes
Radiation does not hurt when administered
Treatments are twice a day, Monday through Friday for one week
The “catheter device” is removed immediately after treatment
What are the side effects and toxicities of brachytherapy?
The field of radiation has dramatically reduced its side effects over the last decade. CT Scan Radiation Planning has revolutionized the ability to better focus radiation on the area of cancer and avoid damaging adjacent normal tissue.
Some side effects and toxicities
*Irritated and tender breast and skin
*Skin thickening and redness
*Infection
*Soreness of the breast and ribs
*Cosmetic deformity
*Rarely, unusual cancers can be caused by breast radiation
*Situations some choose brachytherapy?
If you cannot visit the radiation center daily for 4 to 6 weeks.
Many women do not live close enough to a radiation center to drive daily for 4 to 6 weeks of treatments. Those that live in rural areas may be attracted by a one week series of treatments. Lifestyle, work, and vacation plans can sometimes conflict with dedicating an uninterrupted 4 to 6-week period of daily trips to the radiation center.
I yad brahatherpy just as you described. Worked 100 percent
Getting this right now. The device is inserted. Had 1st of 5, twice a day radiation for stage 0, grade 3 small mass. Told I needed to be treated with radiation as stage 1/2 patients are, because I had grade 3 cancer cells. Grateful this method is available because frozen shoulder I have keeps me from being able to raise the arm, required for traditional radiation. What bothers me is day one for radiation was a Fri. The following week Mon-Thurs for remaining radiation days. Don't like having the device in my breast over Sat/Sun also.
Good morning my name is Marie I just diagnosed with IDC with cancer
@@MsGraciemacie Good morning I’m doing OK thanks for checking in:-)
Had the surgery in in 2015and 2016. So I had radiation therapy on my breast cancer and spent 8 weeks with the weekends off and the high dose radiation extremely often but I have no idea what to say to the hospital 🏥 for someone else who has cancer.
Can chemo get those left over micro cells without radiation?
I'm getting this
How are you doing?
@@jcatlover2251 great 👍
@@jcatlover2251 it was a breeze.
@@MsGraciemacie I had absolutely no pain at all it was just uncomfortable you knew it was there trust me it'll be the best thing you ever do much better than 6 weeks of treatment every single day just keep that in mind
@@MsGraciemacie so depending on where they put the device it will have tentacles which will be covered in a bandage and then you will wear a bra 24/7 so when I mean uncomfortable you'll have to sleep on your back or whichever side the savvy is not on. When they put the savvy in they will numb you and you really won't feel much of that. The most uncomfortable time for me was when they pulled it out but it was very fast so the pain was minimal.