Radiotherapy

Radiation therapy is an important component of therapy for most women diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer. Traditionally, radiotherapy treatment field placement had been based on bony landmarks. However, with advances in both imaging and radiotherapy techniques, there has been a move to adapt a more volume-based approach as opposed to a field-based approach. Minimising long-term toxicity to the underlying heart and lung is an important consideration during the treatment planning process. Standard practice is to offer patients radiotherapy after breast-conserving surgery for invasive cancer. This is based on randomised trials demonstrating the therapeutic equivalence between breast-conserving surgery and radiation therapy with mastectomy for patients with early breast cancer. Palliative radiotherapy can be highly effective at relieving localised symptoms in patients with advanced breast cancer. For patients with brain metastases, management will also depend on the number and size of metastases.