Radiation breast cancer

Radiation breast cancer Radiation can reduce the risk of recurrence by 50-66% (1/2 - 2/3 reduction of risk) when delivered in the correct dose^[ca] and is considered essential when breast cancer is treated by removing only the lump (Lumpectomy or Wide local excision).

Radiotherapy is given after surgery to the region of the tumor bed and regional lymph nodes, to destroy microscopic tumor cells that may have escaped surgery. It may also have a beneficial effect on tumor microenvironment. 

Radiation therapy can be delivered as external beam radiotherapy or as brachytherapy (internal radiotherapy). Conventionally radiotherapy is given after the operation for breast cancer. Radiation can also be given at the time of operation on the breast cancer- intraoperatively. 

The Radiation therapy largest randomised trial to test this approach was the TAR-GIT-A Trial which found that targeted intraoperative radiotherapy was equally effective at 4-years as the usual several weeks' of whole breast external beam radiotherapy.