What should I know about a lumpectomy and radiation?

Answer by  lovelife (998)

Radiation is generally ordered after a lumpectomy to assure that all the cells surrounding the lumpectomy are treated. It is because cancer cells can be microscopic and the radiation works to kill off the cells that might not be seen with the naked eye. Your physician will explain the side effects and answer any questions before administering the radiation.

Answer by  Deepakck (174)

Lumpectomy is a term for breast conserving surgery performed to treat breast cancer patients, which is the removal of breast tumor from the breast. Radiation after lumpectomy has become standard as the evidence from the large clinical trails showed that this will reduce chance of breast cancer coming back

Answer by  Christian9247 (5042)

This is a simply surgery which due to the radiation takes a great deal of time to heal. The good news is that if you're receiving this treatment you are in early stages of cancer and this is to help wipe out any residue cancer cells throughout the body. There have been minimal complications from this procedure.

Answer by  Bubba49 (177)

For you to be a candidate, you have early stage cancer. That is the great news. It is a minimal surgery with a rapid recovery time and usually minimal disfigurement if any at all. Post operative radiation is to remove any residual cancer cells. Radiation is quite simple and if done by good radiation therapists, has minimal complications.

Answer by  Mary39 (521)

A lumpectomy is a procedure in which a small piece of tissue, usually 4 centimeters in diameter is removed from the breast without any other areas disturbed. Results appear to be better when women have a lumpectomy with radiation treatment as opposed to just a lumpectomy.

Answer by  diva25 (4016)

I think the most important thing that you need to remember is that you need to remember is that a lumpectomy is a surgery and it may take awhile to heal. Radiation is helpful to your cancer, but harmful to other part of your body. You may have no hair.

Answer by  jaimesgirl (1055)

If you have had a lumpectomy and are receiving radiation, you may experience a slower healing at the surgery site.