Do Skin Markings Reflect the Location of the Surgical Cavity During Daily Radiotherapy Treatment?

Women in the Fraser Valley, with Breast cancer that is suitable for treatment with a new radiation treatment procedure called accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI)

Inclusion Criteria:

• may participate in this study if they satisfy all of the following criteria:

  1. You have a new diagnosis of in-situ or invasive breast cancer with no evidence of distant disease spread
  2. You have no evidence of disease spread to the axillary lymph glands
  3. You were treated by lumpectomy (partial mastectomy) with no cancer found microscopically at the edge of the removed breast tissue (called negative margins).
  4. Your surgical cavity can be treated with APBI. This is dependent on many physical factors such as the size, shape, and location of the surgical cavity; the size and shape of the entire breast; as well as the exact location of the underlying heart and lungs.
  5. You fully understand the study and give your informed consent to participate as demonstrated by signing this consent form.

Exclusion Criteria:

• You cannot participate in this if any of the following applies to you:

  1. If your tumor was larger than 3 cm in diameter on pathological examination.
  2. You had more than one primary tumour in different quadrants of the same breast.
  3. You are currently pregnant or lactating.
  4. You are suffering from psychiatric or addictive disorders which would prevent you from giving informed consent or carrying out the requirements of the study.
  5. It is not possible to localize the surgical cavity on CT scan.
  6. You have a breast implant or pacemaker on the side being treated.