External Radiation Therapy

External Radiation Therapy, also known as external beam therapy, carries high beam of radiation by x- rays and sends them directly to breast cancer cells. The high beam is send by a large machine called a linear accelerator and targeted at the tumor site, this treatment option for breast cancer is delivered in two treatment fields: one starts in the middle of the chest and faces the side, while the other starts from the side breast and faces the middle of the chest, where the breastbone is located.

   Usually the treatment is given twice a day for approximately 2 to 9 weeks depending on the patient and their progress. The treatment last for about one hour each day and mostly during that hour it’s positioning and imaging the patient. The treatment itself last for several minutes. During the procedure no pain is felt but you might hear clicking or buzzing. Sometimes patients smell an odd scent because the ozone produced by the linear accelerator. After you finish your treatment doctors might give you follows up exams. Post-treatment are very important because they can tell you if you are stable and or as changed, They might ask for a couple of blood test and images just to make sure everything is fine.