After your breast surgery, your physician may recommend adjuvant therapy. This can be radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or hormone therapy to prevent local or systemic recurrence of your cancer.

Radiation Therapy:
Radiation therapy is a cancer treatment that uses high-energy X-rays or other types of radiation to kill cancer cells or keep them from growing. There are two types of radiation therapy.

1. External radiation therapy uses a machine called a linear accelerator to deliver high-energy radiation from outside the body to the affected area.

2. Internal radiation therapy also known as accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) delivers radiation from inside the body directly to the lumpectomy site.

Chemotherapy:
Chemotherapy is a cancer treatment that uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. When chemotherapy is taken by mouth or injected into a vein or muscle, the drugs enter the bloodstream and can reach cancer cells throughout the body (systemic chemotherapy). When chemotherapy is placed directly into the spinal column, an organ, or a body cavity such as the abdomen, the drugs mainly affect cancer cells in those areas (regional chemotherapy). The way the chemotherapy is given depends on the type and stage of the cancer being treated.

Hormone therapy:
Hormone therapy is a cancer treatment that removes hormones or blocks their action and stops cancer cells from growing. Hormones are substances produced by glands in the body and circulated in the bloodstream. Some hormones can cause certain cancers to grow. If tests show that the cancer cells have places where hormones can attach (receptors), drugs, surgery, or radiation therapy are used to reduce the production of hormones or block them from working.

"About Breast Cancer Brochure"

This information is designed to help people with cancer learn more about the treatment options available. It is not intended to replace advice from a medical professional. If you have any questions about a specific treatment, please ask your radiation oncologist.

Links to Additional Information

American Cancer Society: http://www.cancer.org/docroot/home/index.asp

Breast Cancer Support: http://www.bcsupport.org/

Breastcancer.org: http://www.breastcancer.org/

Caring for Cancer: http://www.caring4cancer.com/

National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc.: http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/

National Cancer Institute: http://www.cancer.gov/

Susan G. Komen for the Cure: http://cms.komen.org/komen/index.htm

The American Society of Breast Surgeons: http://www.breastsurgeons.org/

Vital Options International: http://www.vitaloptions.org/

Y-Me National Breast Cancer Organization:  http://www.yme.org/