Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy is a local treatment to the breast and is usually a part of breast conservation treatment.  It is given to the breast as a course of treatment and reduces the risk of developing another cancer in that breast.  It is sometimes given after mastectomy or lymph node surgery if the pathology results indicate a higher than usual risk of the cancer returning at the site of your surgery. It is the addition of radiotherapy that makes your chance of survival after lumpectomy (breast conservation surgery) the same as if you had a mastectomy.

For some ladies with small cancers that we think are at very low risk of returning we don't need to give radiotherapy. This is usually a decision that can only be made by your radiation oncologist after your surgery has been completed and all the final pathology results are available.