The purpose of radiation is to kill cancer cells in a targeted way. With breast cancer, it is often used after surgery to kill off any cancer cells that may remain in the breast or surrounding area. But there are three main areas of debate about radiation – all with the focus of reducing side effects while maximizing outcomes, says Dr. Chirag Shah, Director of Breast Radiation Oncology at the Cleveland Clinic Cancer Center. There’s the question of whether to radiate the whole breast versus partial breast radiation, there’s debate about whether some patients even need radiation at all, and there’s debate about which radiation techniques offer the best outcomes with the least side effects.
SurvivorNet Fact Checking and Medical Review Standards:
The SurvivorNet News Team creates high quality medical information that complies with our industry leading standards for factual accuracy and sourcing from leading experts at academic medical institutions. Every news article is thoroughly fact-checked by our physician collaborators. We vet each piece of work for factual integrity, impartiality, and clearly label any professional conflicts.
All SurvivorNet articles adhere to the following standards:
- All studies and research papers cited are from reputable academic medical institutions or peer-reviewed journals.
- When we use data, statistics, or quotes these references link to the original source.
- All content related to new treatments, drugs, procedures, and so on must clearly describe availability, side effects, treatment target (such as triple negative breast cancer)
- All medical information on SurvivorNet is sourced from respected medical professionals with verified medical credentials and links are provided to these sources.
- We strive to give the reader relevant background information and include, clearly-sourced contextual health information in all articles 6) Readers are clearly alerted to any conflicts of interest from a medical source or the authors of a cited study.
The Debates Around Radiation for Breast Cancer
The purpose of radiation is to kill cancer cells in a targeted way. With breast cancer, it is often used after surgery to kill off any cancer cells that may remain in the breast or surrounding area. But there are three main areas of debate about radiation – all with the focus of reducing side effects while maximizing outcomes, says Dr. Chirag Shah, Director of Breast Radiation Oncology at the Cleveland Clinic Cancer Center. There’s the question of whether to radiate the whole breast versus partial breast radiation, there’s debate about whether some patients even need radiation at all, and there’s debate about which radiation techniques offer the best outcomes with the least side effects.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
SurvivorNetTV.
Hope. Science.
Inspiration.
Discover SNTVTreatment: Choosing Your Treatment
A mastectomy involves removing the breast – a treatment route many patients with breast cancer feel they will have no choice but to undergo. But it’s not the only surgical option.
Treatment: Surgical Options
A mastectomy involves removing the breast – a treatment route many patients with breast cancer feel they will have no choice but to undergo. But it’s not the only surgical option.
Treatment: Stage Zero Breast Cancer
Treatment: Hormone Receptor Positive Breast Cancer
Treatment: Triple Negative Breast Cancer
Treatment: HER2-Positive Breast Cancer
For patients who do have to have their breasts or a piece of their breasts removed, there are a number of surgical reconstruction options available.
Treatment: Reconstruction
For patients who do have to have their breasts or a piece of their breasts removed, there are a number of surgical reconstruction options available.
Lymphedema is a chronic swelling that can occur after breast cancer surgery and radiation.
Treatment: Lymphedema
Lymphedema is a chronic swelling that can occur after breast cancer surgery and radiation.
SN GUIDES
The First 60
Begin the breast cancer journey with confidence.