The Current Paradigm for Breast Irradiation: The Case for Treating the Whole Breast over Six Weeks

Radiation treatment of the entire breast in the setting of breast conserving therapy is currently standard of care in the United States. With the recent arrival of accelerated partial breast irradiation, women have more options and opportunities from which to choose. The robust, long-standing data of whole breast radiotherapy continues to delineate and solidify the rationale for treating the whole breast. In this article, the current paradigm of whole breast treatment is reviewed.