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Deciding on Radiation for breast cancer: Photon or Proton?
Breast Cancer | Last Active: Dec 20, 2025 | Replies (30)Comment receiving replies
Thank you. And so glad you are doing fine!
I’m wondering how the beam finds the target when such a wide area is being addressed. This would be after a known target is surgically removed in my case so it’s a preventive treatment in case there are other microscopic cells in the “ whole breast “ area including nodes.
Was this addressed to your situation.?
Replies to "Thank you. And so glad you are doing fine! I’m wondering how the beam finds the..."
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Before your radiation treatment begins, a radiation oncologist, a medical physicist and a medical statistician calculate exactly where to aim the beam. The beam paints the entire area. I had radiation aimed at chest area and then the unit turned about 30 degrees and irradiated the area where all the lymph nodes are located. My radiation was also preventive. Don't worry about where the protons go. Your team will calculate the entire treatment and aim the radiation appropriately. Think a beam moving back and forth across the target AREA. Ask the proton oncologist to explain it to you. It's the safest and best way to treat you. Google proton radiation. Trust me.