You will not be radioactive, and may do most of your usual activities during that period. We have cancer nutrition classes and other activities in which you may participate. So far, three hospitals in North America have published early results using similar techniques. The radiation dose is concentrated in the area of the breast where the tumor was previously removed. Less radiation will reach the skin, lungs, heart, ribs, the healthy part of the breast, and the body as a whole.
Radiation appears to be more effective if it can be given earlier rather than later.
Although brachytherapy is a very common and proven treatment for cancer, using brachytherapy instead of external beam radiation for breast cancer is a new idea. Because of this, we are still not sure if the results will be better, the same, or worse than the results seen after whole breast radiotherapy. However, even if the results are approximately the same, brachytherapy still has the advantages of being a shorter treatment, does not delay chemotherapy as much, and irradiates less of the healthy tissues. We hope that our research will help show that lumpectomy followed by brachytherapy can become a standard treatment option for breast cancer patients who are trying to keep their breast. Our protocol is available for women with stage 1 or stage 2 breast cancer, who have had their breast tumor removed within the past 90 days.