Why would radiation treatment be necessary following masectomy and chemo?

[H22]

Why would it be necessary to have radiation treatment after a bilateral masectomy and chemotherapy?  What are the pros and cons?  This patient had a 6cm tumor in one breast and elected to have a both breasts removed.  She did not show any cancer in the lymphnodes, but her tumor was close to the chest wall.  She completed eight treatments of chemotherapy and was ready to be done.  Now the treatment center is telling her she needs radiation therapy as a precaution.  Why would that be necessary?  Thank you for any information that you share.

[BhumikaMD]

Hi,

Even after surgical intervention and chemotherapy there is a chance of recurrence or spread of breast cancer.

Therefore, in cases which are susceptible to spread or recurrence radiotherapy is advised.

The microcopic or residual cancer cells need to be destroyed permanently - therefore both chemotherapy and radiotherapy are advised on some patients.

Also, this increases the disease free survival, prognosis and decreases the rate of recurrence or spread.

Do let us know if you have anu more doubts.
You should also talk to your doctor, oncologist about this in detail.
Hope this helps.
Good luck.

[Vanessa Lacuesta]

Hi,

Postmastectomy radiation therapy is given to decrease local and regional recurrence of the tumor. Cancer operates at a cellular level and even if the tumor has been surgically removed and chemotherapy has been instituted, microscopic cancer cells may still be present.

In a particular study, postmastectomy radiation therapy given optimally  does not only decrease locoregional recurrence of breast cancer but also increases 5 and 10 year survival rates in patients with a high risk of cancer recurrence

You may check this : http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/results/postmastectomy-radiation0106

I hope this helps.Continue reassuring your sister and be strong for her as she goes through this.

Keep us posted.