Breast Cancer

Radiation Therapy

A Team Approach

Every patient with breast cancer who needs radiation therapy is carefully reviewed by a multidisciplinary team at NewYork-Presbyterian to ensure that we are providing the highest quality and safest radiation therapy possible while maximizing effectiveness and minimizing unnecessary exposures.  

Precision External-Beam Radiation Therapy

We use highly precise external-beam radiation therapy technologies, such as intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT), to shape radiation beams to the contours of your tumor while sparing surrounding healthy tissue. Many women are also candidates for hypofractionated radiation therapy—higher doses of radiation given over a shorter total period than conventional treatment—which is more convenient and safer.

Prone Radiation Therapy for Breast Cancer

Radiation to the chest can result in unnecessary exposure to the heart, lungs, and other organs. Our team pioneered and developed prone breast radiation, the leading technique to radiate breast cancer cells while sparing nearby healthy tissues and reducing your risk of side effects. You lie face down on the table with the affected breast isolated. Radiation can be directed only to the breast while the rest of your body remains protected.

Internal Radiation Therapy

Also called brachytherapy, we use this approach to deliver radiation therapy directly within your breast after the tumor has been surgically removed. Our goal is to reduce the number and duration of radiotherapy sessions needed to treat your cancer and to protect your healthy tissue. In some cases, we may offer intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT), in which all the radiation therapy you need is delivered in a single dose immediately after a lumpectomy. NewYork-Presbyterian was the first hospital in the New York metropolitan area to offer this approach. Your doctor will let you know if this treatment is an option for you.