Radiation is usually given after a lumpectomy (and sometimes after a mastectomy) to clear any microscopic cells left behind. Each session takes a few minutes, five days a week, for three to six weeks.
What to expect
- A planning session maps your treatment area precisely
- Small marks guide the beam position each day
- You feel nothing during each session
- The skin of the treated area may redden, or fatigue may appear
Newer techniques — including hypofractionation (shorter schedules) and targeted intra-operative radiation — dramatically shorten treatment time while keeping excellent results.