Before the operation if you are having breast conserving treatment
Meeting the Radiation Oncologist
- You will meet the radiation oncologist
- He will ask about your personal history
- He will also inspect your breast and test results
- Your treatment will be booked for after your surgery
After the initial consultation
Planning your treatment
- You will be shown into a room where there is a large radiotherapy machine
- The specialist staff will take photographs of your breast
- You will have some scans and X-rays to help work out the dose and the exact position for the machine to be aimed at
- They will aim the machine at your breast and take a lot of measurements
- They will put one or more "tattoos" or indelible marks (Usually a needle scratch) below your arm. They will also mark you up with a black felt tip marker. This is to help set up the machine every time you have treatment
2-4 weeks after the operation
Your treatment
- You will receive treatment 5 days a week for 5-6 weeks
- This will usually be in a different room from where you were set up
- Each treatment takes only a few minutes but you will have to wait for setup of the machine and may wait in a queue
- If there are holidays in the middle of this time you may need to go for longer
- You will be shown into the treatment room, asked to undress from the waist up and then wait till the machine is set up
- You will then lie down, face up on the bed under the machine
- The specialist will make some adjustments to line you up. They may also re-mark your skin with felt tip pen (Texta).
- The specialist will leave the room. You will hear a sound as the treatment is applied. You will not feel anything. It will last just a few minutes
- Once a week the radiation oncologist will check your skin and progress generally
- There may be a nurse where you have your treatment who will check your skin once or twice a week and give you advice on looking after your skin
- If your skin gets too red or sore, your treatment may be delayed until this gets better
Week after treatment
Booster treatment
- You may require a booster treatment.
- This is used to kill any remaining cancer cells and is a more concentrated dose of radiation
- The booster treatment is normally aimed at the scar
- The booster treatment is usually done with the same machine. Sometimes you will have internal implants (wires or needles implanted in the breast close to where the cancer was). These are removed a day or two later.
2-6 weeks after treatment
Follow up
- You will have a follow up with the radiation oncologist to check that your side effects are reducing
