Radiation Therapy Raditation Therapy is commonly used after a lumpectomy. During radiation treatments, a machine sends x-rays directly to your breast and possibly to your underarm. The x-rays are used to destroy any remaining cancer cells. A typical treatment schedule is five days a week for about five or six weeks. Chemotherapy Chemotherapy means the use of chemicals to treat disease.
Most people think of chemotherapy when they think of cancer treatments.
Recently, great strides have been made in cancer chemotherapy. New, more effective combinations have been developed. Side effects such as nausea are now better controlled by new anti-nausea drugs. The chemotherapy is given at the hospital outpatient clinic, at the doctor's office, or at home. It can last 30 minutes or less to more than an hour, depending on the drugs used.