8. Main algorithms for prescribing and delivering radiotherapy
Covers the role of radiotherapy in breast cancer, which has moved from being the sole treatment to an adjuvant or neoadjuvant addition alongside surgery, chemotherapy and hormone therapy. It outlines the delivery methods (brachytherapy, intraoperative and external beam), notes that shorter courses of three to four weeks give similar side effects to longer schedules, and explains that radiotherapy mainly aims to reduce local relapse, especially after breast-conserving surgery.
Inside: 1 section · 11 flashcards · 1 min
Topic 23 of 50 in the MU Sofia syllabus for Nuclear Medicine (Medicine, Year 4). The free AceMed note covers it in 1 section, about 118 words (1 min of reading), with 11 flashcards.
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Radiotherapy in treatment of breast cancer
Radiotherapy in treatment of breast cancer
Historically, treatment of breast cancer was purely radiotherapy, however now radiotherapy is generally adjuvant or neoadjuvant, with surgery (mastectomies) being the main part of the treatment.
The radiotherapy may also be used in conjunction with chemotherapy, hormone therapy (a form of targeted chemotherapy), any of these treatments can also be used in isolation.
Radiotherapy is generally done by brachytherapy (internal radiotherapy), intraoperative radiotherapy or external beam radiotherapy. Shorter treatment courses (3-4 weeks) result in similar side effects and cancer changes as longer treatment schedules, with each treatment taking about 15 minutes.
Indications for radiotherapy are generally around reducing risk of local relapse and is recommended in most cases of breast conserving surgeries (i.e. lumpectomy), less so after mastectomies.
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