One of the questions that patients ask, or probably wonder about, relates to the need for local treatment when they have already undergone surgery to remove the entire tumour.
First, we will talk about breast-conserving surgery, an effective and less invasive treatment.
In recent years, the approach to breast cancer has evolved considerably. Today, in most cases it is possible to preserve the breast without compromising the safety of the treatment. This is achieved through the combination of breast-conserving surgery (also called lumpectomy or quadrantectomy) and adjuvant radiotherapy.
It is a surgical procedure that removes only the tumour and a margin of healthy tissue around it, keeping most of the breast intact.
Its main advantages are:
- More natural aesthetic results
- Faster physical and emotional recovery.
- The same effectiveness as a mastectomy in most cases when it is combined with the appropriate treatment.
It is precisely in this last point where Radiotherapy plays an important role.
With the introduction of breast-conserving surgery, higher rates of local recurrence of the disease began to occur compared to patients who underwent mastectomy.
This led to the need and recommendation to combine breast-conserving surgery with local, non-invasive therapy to improve disease control and achieve results comparable to those of patients who underwent mastectomy. Studies showed that when this adjuvant/complementary therapy is performed, these recurrence rates decrease by up to 15%.
Therefore, its role is to:
- • Allow the patient to preserve her breast with the same safety level as if she had undergone a mastectomy.
- Minimise the risk of recurrence in the treated breast.
- Allow the patient to preserve her breast with the same safety level as if she had undergone a mastectomy.
- It is administered on an outpatient basis, in most cases in short daily sessions (20-25 minutes) over a period of a few weeks (1-3 weeks).
- It is a safe, personalised treatment, planned with precision to protect healthy tissue as much as possible.
- Side effects are usually mild and temporary, with skin redness and fatigue being the most common.
Although the tumour is no longer present, radiotherapy is a key step in completing treatment and reducing the risk of relapse. Thanks to current techniques, it is a precise, safe and well-tolerated procedure that allows the breast to be preserved while maintaining a good quality of life.
At HC Marbella, we support each patient with a personalised and humane approach, helping you feel safe and confident at every stage of your journey to recovery.
Dra. Paula Sedano Ferreras
Radiation Oncology Specialist
October 28, 2025
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