Radiation therapy works well to keep cancer from coming back in early-stage breast cancer.
Many people with early breast cancers are treated with radiation 5 days a week for about 3 weeks. This treatment schedule is called "hypofractionated." Some people are treated for a longer period of time. Talk with your doctor about which schedule is right for you. It will depend on:
External beam radiation therapy uses doses of radiation to kill cancer cells. A beam of radiation is aimed at the tumor from outside the body. This treatment is given to most people with early-stage breast cancer who choose breast-conserving surgery such as lumpectomy.
Radiation therapy is used to destroy any trace of cancer cells that might remain in the body after surgery. It is given to most people with early-stage breast cancer who choose breast-conserving surgery such as lumpectomy. It may also be given after a mastectomy if there's a high risk of the cancer coming back.
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