| Radiations are so powerful that they can destroy | | | | Thus, dose is split into several parts |
| cancer cells easily. And so radiotherapy for breast | | | | You have to travel to hospital for radiotherapy |
| cancer is getting popularity these days for its | | | | treatment. You have your treatment in the |
| effectiveness. | | | | radiotherapy outpatient department. Radiotherapy is |
| Radiotherapy treatment is mostly used by doctors | | | | split into a course of small treatments. If you were |
| after breast surgery. As per surgery and | | | | to have the total dose in one go, it would be too |
| radiotherapy review of research trials, it have been | | | | harmful to normal body tissues. So the dose is split |
| observed that this treatment lower down the risk of | | | | into smaller doses that you have each day (or on |
| coming back of cancer in remaining lymph nodes or | | | | alternate days) over a number of weeks. Each dose |
| breast tissue. And it is also helpful in elongating life of | | | | is known as a 'fraction'. |
| several women. | | | | Treatment Planning |
| Women who are in early stage of breast cancer, the | | | | Radiotherapy for breast cancer is a special treatment |
| cure rate is almost similar whether they are treated | | | | which is done by specialists in hospitals. At first visit, |
| with lumpectomy and then radiotherapy. In the | | | | patients are treated with large machine called CT |
| treatment radiotherapy for breast cancer, usually all | | | | simulator. CT simulator or CT scans are used to plan |
| remaining breast tissue are treated after | | | | the exact treatment area. A pinprick tattoo is made |
| lumpectomy. | | | | on the skin of patient. It helps radiographer to line up |
| Treatment Procedure | | | | the radiotherapy machine every time of the |
| One needs to move for radiotherapy outpatient | | | | treatment. One should avoid washing such marks on |
| department in hospital for the treatment, | | | | skin. |
| radiotherapy for breast cancer. Radiotherapy is | | | | Treatment takes very less time and radiographers |
| actually categorized into several small treatments. If | | | | make patient comfortable sitting on couch. |
| someone wants to get total dose in one go, then it | | | | Radiotherapy for breast cancer is perfectly safe for |
| would be quite harmful for unaffected body tissues. | | | | other people including children living with the patients. |