Understanding External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT)
What is EBRT?
External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT) is the most common form of radiation treatment for people with breast cancer. It uses a powerful machine to send high-energy radiation beams from outside your body directly to the area where cancer was found. The goal is to destroy any remaining cancer cells while protecting nearby healthy tissue.
Frequently Asked Questions About EBRT
Where will radiation be directed if I had a mastectomy?
What areas would be treated if I had a lumpectomy?
What if cancer was found in my lymph nodes?
What if I have metastatic breast cancer?
When does radiation therapy usually begin?
Your EBRT Plan: What Gets Treated and Why
EBRT is often part of breast cancer treatment, and it’s tailored to your body, and your diagnosis. Here’s what you can expect, broken down by treatment area.
Whole Breast Radiation
Whole breast radiation means the entire affected breast is treated with targeted radiation.
What to Expect: Standard Schedule
Most people follow a schedule of 5 treatments per week (Monday through Friday). Each session lasts about 10 to 20 minutes, and the full course typically runs for approximately 4-6 weeks. Most modern treatment plans are moving towards the shorter (“hypofractionated”) schedules based on research that has shown comparability between these schedules. This may be a discussion to have with your radiation oncologist if there is any concern.
Chest Wall Radiation
If you had a mastectomy and if your doctor recommends chest wall radiation, this usually includes the chest wall and some portion of the nearby lymph nodes, depending on the features of the cancer and the extent of surgery under the arm. This treatment focuses on: your entire chest wall and the mastectomy scar
What To Expect
Treatment usually follows the same schedule as whole breast radiation: Standard- 5 days a week for about 5-6 weeks or Hypofractioned- 5 days a week for about 3-4 weeks
Lymph Node Radiation
Whether you had a mastectomy or lumpectomy, if cancer was found in your lymph nodes, radiation may also target those areas. Areas that may be treated include: axillary nodes (underarm), supraclavicular nodes (above the collarbone), or internal mammary nodes (behind the breastbone/sternum)
Why These Areas Matter
Irradiating the lymph nodes can help reduce the risk of cancer returning or spreading through your lymphatic system.
What To Expect
This treatment is usually given at the same time as your breast or chest wall radiation, following the same schedule: Standard- 5 days a week for about 5-6 weeks or Hypofractioned- 5 days a week for about 3-4 weeks
An Option: Even Shorter Treatment Time
Recent research is showing that even shorter schedules may be possible in selected settings. This is called ultra hypofractionated radiation therapy. It uses fewer treatments and is given as larger doses per day. Your radiation oncologist can discuss this with you if this is considered an appropriate option. This schedule thus far has been used mainly in early-stage disease.
