Radiation Therapy for Breast Cancer: Re-Treatment

Abstract

Radiation therapy is an established form of therapy for breast cancer, often applied in an adjuvant setting delivered in a post-operative environment to volumes including the breast, surgical cavity, and regional lymph nodes when appropriate. Historically, radiation therapy has not been considered an option for care when the patient recurs with the disease despite being treated with radiation therapy in the adjuvant setting. However, there can be clinical circumstances that require a different approach to the care including comprehensive re-treatment with radiation therapy in highly selected situations. This paper reviewed two patients with clinical circumstances requiring consideration for re-treatment with radiation therapy and were successfully re-treated with an acceptable outcome.