Radiation Therapy for Breast Cancer
UCLA Multidisciplinary Expert Care
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Radiation therapy has a long history in the treatment of breast cancer. It is used in most patients undergoing breast conservation. Breast conservation is the treatment of choice for most early stage breast patients in the U.S. today.
Fig 1. Whole breast radiation therapy
Fig 2. Partial breast external beam
Fig 3. Partial breast brachytherapy (Balloon based and Implant based)
Radiation therapy is also used in patients following mastectomy (breast removal) if certain "high risk" features are identified.
In several clinical trials, radiation has been found to not only reduce the chance of local recurrence, but also improve patient survival.
At UCLA there are several techniques available to treat breast cancer.
These techniques include:
Whole breast radiation therapy (fig 1)
- Standard fractionation - 6.5 weeks
- Hypofractionation - 3-4 weeks
Partial breast irradiation (PBI) (fig 2&3)
- External Beam
- Balloon based implant
- Interstitial needle implant
- Intraoperative (IORT) - One treatment One day
The following UCLA Radiation Oncologists specialize in treatment of breast cancer:
Susan McCloskey, MD, MSHSAssistant Professor Dr. Susan McCloskey is an Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology at UCLA. Dr. McCloskey received her undergraduate and medical degrees from Emory University in Atlanta, GA and subsequently completed radiation oncology residency training at Roswell Park Cancer Institute. Dr. McCloskey also holds a master’s degree in health services research from the UCLA School of Public Health. Dr. McCloskey specializes in the treatment of breast cancer and her research focuses on quality of care, quality of life, and health technology and outcomes assessment.
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Phillip J. Beron, MD Associate Clinical Professor Dr. Phillip Beron is a board-certified radiation oncologist and Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. His professional career spans private and academic practice. Dr. Beron is Chief of the Radiation Oncology Lymphoma Service and Chief of the Westwood Radiation Oncology Breast Cancer Service. Dr. Beron specializes in treatments of all cancer types, but has extensive experience in Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT), stereotactic radiosurgery techniques, stereotactic body radiotherapy techniques, and other advanced techniques in radiation therapy.
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David Jeffrey Demanes, MD, FACRO Dr. Jeffrey Demanes received his bachelor of arts degree from UC Berkeley and his medical degree from the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. He completed residencies in internal medicine and radiation oncology at UCLA and his medical oncology fellowship at UCSF. He is the past chairman and president of the American College of Radiation Oncology. Dr. Demanes specializes in brachytherapy, the surgical subspecialty of radiation oncology. He founded the California Endocurietherapy Center (CET) in 1981 and has performed more than 10,000 surgical radiation implants.
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