Radiation Options for Breast Cancer
Appointments
Breast Cancer Radiation Therapy
Radiation Treatment options for breast cancer include:
Partial Breast Irradiation (PBI)
Partial breast irradiation is a procedure for women with early-stage breast cancer. After the tumor is removed with surgery, radiation is delivered directly via a thin tube called a catheter to the area where the cancer had been located, to destroy any remaining cancer cells. Instead of up to two months of radiation treatment, PBI requires just two treatments a day for five consecutive days.
Intraoperative Radiation Therapy (IORT)
Lahey is the only provider in the region to offer intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) as part of partial breast irradiation for women pursuing breast-conserving surgery. This procedure allows the patient to have a lumpectomy and a radiation treatment in the same day in the operating room.
External Radiation
External radiation, also called external beam radiation, is the most common type of radiation therapy for women with breast cancer. In this procedure, radiation from a machine outside the body is focused on the area affected by cancer. External radiation is painless and is similar to getting an x-ray, although the radiation beam is stronger.
Learn more about radiation treatments for breast cancer at the Lahey Health Cancer Institute.
