Radiation Treatment for Breast Cancer

When one discovers the onset of breast cancer, the diagnosis can be terrifying. This is understandable since many automatically equate cancer with mortality. However, this is not a completely accurate assessment. Many people have “beat” cancer. That is, they have undergone various treatment procedures which have sent the cancer cells into remission. There are a number of ways to combat breast cancer. Surgery and chemotherapy are probably the most well known. Radiation treatment is also employed although the mere mention of the name will worry patients.

This is mainly because people develop a familiarity with radiation through the cinema. More specifically, radiation is often used as a plot device in over the top science-fiction films. As absurd as it sounds on the surface, the actual psychological effect is very real. This does very little for making one feel at ease when radiation treatment is suggested. However, once a patient is informed of the actual process, there comes a realization that this is a very helpful method of combating the disease.

The way radiation treatment for breast cancer works is fairly straight forward. A concentrated dose of radiation is delivered into the cancer cells. The goal is to outright kill the cells. This is a significant departure from chemotherapy which is used mainly in conjunction with surgical procedures.

The way the radiation is administered is safe and controlled. A patient is placed in a device known as a “linear accelerator”. Once safely placed in the device, the proper amount of radiation can be administered. The chances for radiation overdoses are virtually non-existent in this controlled environment.

Radiation treatment is often not the first option to deal with breast cancer. In many instances, it is employed when surgery or chemotherapy would not be helpful. For example, if the cancer has spread to the bones then radiation treatment is the only viable option. In some cases, radiation treatment is employed if a surgery comes with too many risks to the patient’s health.

Radiation treatment is also used in conjunction with surgery and chemotherapy. Often, radiation treatment is utilized after surgery to increase the odds that the cancer will not return. This has been very successful in the past and that is why it is employed so frequently.

So, there is really no cause for alarm if you are to undergo radiation treatment. Yes, breast cancer is a serious condition. However, there are a number of successful medical treatments that can combat it. Radiation treatment falls into this category.

 

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Source: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/breast/HealthProfessional/page7