Radiation Therapy Treatments for Breast Cancer

This article evaluates the different techniques used in radiation therapy treatments for breast cancer, including beam arrangements and the use of 6mv energy. It also discusses the challenges faced during the course and the ICRU guidelines that must be followed. The article is relevant for students studying oncology or radiation therapy.

Running head: RADIATION THERAPY TREATMENTS FOR BREAST CANCER
Radiation Therapy Treatments for Breast Cancer
Name of the Student
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Author Note

1RADIATION THERAPY TREATMENTS FOR BREAST CANCER
Evaluation of breast cancer of Supraclavicular nodes by Radiation Therapy
treatment
Managing the multimodal breast cancer is a fundamental component of Radiation
Therapy. The Radiation Therapy is done on breast cancer surviving patients who are
undergoing treatment for the conservation of breasts or locally advanced stages. The
following evaluation would focus on the different techniques that are applied to a patient
according to the severity of the cancerous cells in the Supraclavicular nodes. This will also
include the challenged faced during the course and considering the RNI of a patient planning
to undergo a breast cancer treatment.
Use of Beam arrangements like Tangential Field Techniques for breast cancer with
Supraclavicular node
One of the most common techniques of removal of breast cancer by Radiotherapy is
through beam arrangement techniques. Surgical radiotherapy for regional treatment is done to
remove the macro or microscopic lymph node cancer. Another form of radiotherapy is
applied by beam arrangement technology for treating the tangential area. This is done to
remove even the slightest chances of metastases forming at the tangential area of the site of
the cancer (6).
Removing the cancerous cells from the breast region is done by auto contouring on
both the body and the two lungs (7). The three-field technique is also incorporated on the
tangential fields for treating the breast, chest wall and Supraclavicular lymph nodes. As per
reports, the most widespread combination of tangential field radiotherapy technique is the
whole breast or chest wall in supine position with absolutely breathing disallowance (8).
Two opposing tangential fields are often used for radiotherapy procedure and
irradiating the supraclavicular node applies a third field. If the local CTV to PTV margins are

2RADIATION THERAPY TREATMENTS FOR BREAST CANCER
considered these positions are to be maintained, the superior 1.0 cm to the contralateral breast
position, the inferior 1.0 cm under the inframammary fold, the position, and 1.0cm lateral to
the contralateral breast. However, the junctions are at a risk of being over or under-dosed.
That is why 3CRT or 3D technique is used where mono-isocentric and di-isocentric
techniques are used.
Use of 6mv Energy
The radiation therapy comprises of photon rays that may have complicities in the
patients. The photon rays are measured in the volume of the breasts that are to be treated with
the radiation therapy, and the intensity depends on the size of the breast. If the breast size
were large, the normal tissues around it would receive more than 110 percent of the isocenter
dosage (2). For the dosing of tumour bed boost, an applied electron beam should be
recommended. Beam energy should be selected properly and should be used in context to the
depth of the tumour bed measured from the CT scan.
The position of the isocentre should be considered while choosing the three-photon
6mv fields. Since, breast size, volume and temperature are different in various patients, the
use of 6mv rays would depend upon various reasons to use. Linear particle accelerator value
depends on the intensity of the photon rays radiated through the patient’s body. Collimator
angle should be kept at 0 degree if a breast board is used at the time of radiotherapy
procedure.
Use of Mono-isocentric technique
The mono-isocentric technology is the treatment technique that potentially offers
similar outcomes of chemotherapy (5). With the help of X-Ray simulation, isocenter of the
affected area is first planned in this technique. The X-ray forms a horizontal line between the
supraclavicular and the non-symmetric tangential fields.

3RADIATION THERAPY TREATMENTS FOR BREAST CANCER
When it comes to planning for the treatment by the radiation therapy with mono-
isocentric technique, it has to be kept in mind that IMRT generally improves dose
homogeneity. It reduces the dose distributed to the normal tissue and reduces the occurrence
of acute and late skin toxicity and oedema (9). Patients should check for additional personnel
requirement and equipment required for the procedure.
ICRU guidelines regarding radiation therapy treatment
Since its commencement in the year 1925, the principles of the Internal Commission on
Radiation Units and Measurement or ICRU had strict rules for the betterment of the health of
the cancer patients (3). These acceptable set of rules are:
 The units and quantities of the radiation for the radiotherapy should be measured
as per the requirement of the patient to keep her substantially away from the side
effects of the photon rays.
 Strict rules and regulations should be followed for the application and the
measurement of the radiation to be applied to the patients.
 Uniformity in reporting the physical data of the patients should be maintained
before, after and while the application of the procedure (4).

4RADIATION THERAPY TREATMENTS FOR BREAST CANCER
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