ASTRO Provides Treatment Information on Breast Cancer - Options Include Breast-Conserving Surgery Combined with Radiation Therapy

In the past, the only treatment for breast cancer was the removal of the entire breast (mastectomy). Today, the treatments for most early-stage breast cancer include the less-radical breast-conserving surgery (lumpectomy) followed by radiation therapy and sometimes chemotherapy. External beam radiation therapy to the entire breast and partial breast irradiation are the two most common types of radiation therapy used to combat breast cancer. Patients often experience little or no side effects from radiation therapy and, more importantly, are often able to keep their breast. Possible side effects, which are temporary, from radiation therapy can include skin irritation, similar to sunburn, breast swelling and fatigue.

“They key to treating and curing breast cancer is to catch it early,” said Louis Harrison, M.D., Chair of the ASTRO Communications Committee and a radiation oncologist at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York. “There are several effective treatments for this disease and it's important for women with breast cancer to consult with several cancer specialists, including a radiation oncologist, to decide on the best treatment for the woman's type of cancer and lifestyle.” For more information on treatments for breast cancer, visit http://www.rtanswers.org or call 1-800-962-7876 for a free brochure.

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