Jefferson's Kimmel Cancer Center Radiation Oncology

Radiation done after surgery can help decrease cancer cells further.  Radiation is the use of high energy X-rays to treat cancer.  It targets cancer cells selectively over normal tissue.

Role of Radiation Therapy for Breast Cancer:

• treatment after lumpectomy surgery
• treatment after certain mastectomy surgery
• treatment after re-excision mastectomy surgery

Jefferson Radiation Oncologists work with a team to provide radiation therapy.  They include: 

• Oncology Nurses
• Dosimetrists
• Physicists
• Radiation Therapists
• Social Workers
• Support staff

The 1st step in your treatment process is – EVALUATION

Radiation Oncologists prescribe, plan and manage your treatment based on your medical history, surgical history, physical exam, pathology and laboratory and x-ray reports.

At your next appointment a CT Scan is performed to assist the Radiation Oncologist to accurately plan your Radiation Therapy.

About 1 week later –X-rays are performed for verification and then Treatment Begins.

TREATMENT

• each Radiation Therapy Treatment lasts about 15 minutes
• treatments are Monday thru Friday
• overall treatment length varies-the average is 5-7weeks
• *subsidized Parking is provided

Jefferson Radiation Oncology

Our specialized Oncologists (Cancer Doctors) for treatment of breast cancer provide you the following in radiation therapy:

Types of Radiation Therapy for Breast Cancer

• Active Breathing Coordination (ABC)
  

  This technology protects the heart and other organs from damaging radiation during therapy.

  Jefferson Radiation Oncologists were the 1st in the Delaware Valley to provide Active Breathing Coordination to treat breast cancer in the left breast with radiation.

  
  
• 3-D Conformal Breast Irradiation (3-D-CRT)
  This is where multiple radiation treatment fields are you to deliver precise doses of radiation to the breast and spare surrounding tissue.
  
  
• Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)
  This is a specialized way of delivering radiation that allows the radiation to be more exactly shaped to fit the tumor.

• Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation (APBI)
  This is when radiation is delivered to only part of the breast over five days.

• MammoSite
  

  This is target radiation therapy using a small soft balloon attached to a thin catheter (tube).  The balloon is placed in the lumpectomy cavity to deliver radiation therapy using a ‘seed’ which is placed inside the MammoSite balloon during 10 treatments over 5 days.

  Jefferson was one of the U.S. hospitals that helped develop standard radiation dosages for the best therapeutic and cosmetic results following lumpectomy surgery.

Find out more about Breast Cancer treatment.

Department of Radiation Oncology Find out more
Jefferson's Kimmel Cancer Center Find out more
Jefferson's KCC Clinical Trials Find out more