How Often and For How Long Will I Need To Get Radiation Therapy?

Dr. Allen Lichter answers the question: 'How long do I need radiation therapy?'

By
Allen Lichter, M.D., Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer, American Society of Clinical Oncology
May 8, 2008, 3:59 PM ET
1 min read

— -- Question: How often and for how long will I need to get radiation therapy?

Answer: Radiation treatments are given daily, Monday through Friday, for about six weeks. And, the standard course of treatment has been established over many, many years. And, in general, this is the optimal balance between giving enough, to make sure we get the best control, and not giving too much, to make sure that we don't injure the normal tissues and change the breast in any appreciable way. So: daily, takes about 15 minutes, and we do it over six weeks.

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