Breast Radiation
with Albert L. Blumberg, MD
How is the best treatment option determined?
When a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer, doctors at GBMC have one goal: to cure the patient in the best way possible. Today, women have more treatment choices to accomplish those goals than ever before.
If the breast cancer is confined and has not spread to the lymph nodes or other organs, the two most common treatment options are mastectomy (total breast removal) or lumpectomy (partial breast removal) followed by radiation. “Radiating the tissue after surgery is critical for eradicating any potential cancer cells that might be present,” says Albert L. Blumberg, MD, Vice Chairman of Radiation Oncology at GBMC.
Doctors at GBMC believe breast cancer treatment is an interactive process for patients and it often comes down to personal preference. Over the last several years, new classes of drugs for chemotherapy and hormonal therapy have expanded treatment options for patients. Genetic testing has also allowed patients to better understand their risk.
According to Dr. Blumberg, physicians help women with breast cancer deal with two main issues. The first issue is to determine the stage of the disease and whether it has spread (metastasized). Second, they discuss breast conservation versus a mastectomy. Some patients may be interested in a lumpectomy followed by radiation in order to conserve the breast, while others prefer to have a mastectomy. Women who undergo a mastectomy may choose to have reconstructive surgery to cosmetically rebuild their breast.
Each patient is different and treatment requires multidisciplinary and detailed planning. As a result, GBMC has developed an exceptionally experienced team to predict and prevent complications before they happen. “We have a very skilled group of physicians, therapists and support staff and I am very proud of that,” says Dr. Blumberg. Key team members include medical oncologists, surgical oncologists, oncology nurses and radiation oncologists.
When breast-sparing treatment is chosen, the radiation therapists administer the daily radiation treatments. On-site support professionals include the radiation dosimetrist, who handles the computer-generated algorithms and a medical physicist, who oversees machine functions and helps optimize the treatment plan for each patient. At GBMC, the team also extends into the front office. “Our receptionists and secretaries are equally important. Without them, our communication would suffer,” Dr. Blumberg says.
The process of breast conservation treatment may take anywhere from three to seven months. “From the time of the abnormal mammogram, treatment takes approximately three months. First, the woman undergoes lumpectomy, heals from surgery and then begins daily radiation therapy,” says Dr. Blumberg. Radiation therapy is typically administered once a day, Monday through Friday for six and a half to seven weeks. If chemotherapy is included, the process can take an additional three to four months.
According to Dr. Blumberg, the Department of Radiation Oncology at GBMC produces excellent results. “We have a very long, successful track record,” he says. “I take a lot of pride in our cancer program overall and specifically our breast cancer program.”
Although doctors at GBMC are confident many patients will conquer their cancer, women still need to do their part in early detection. “With the use of physical examinations and mammograms, we are able to catch breast cancer in the early stages, when the chances of being cured are remarkably good,” says Dr. Blumberg.
