Hello and thanks for your post,

I can see why you are querying having a shorter course of radiotherapy when you have talked to others who have had several weeks of radiotherapy but the  decision to have one week of radiotherapy is based on a breast trial called the Fast Forward Trial. You can read about the results of the trial here

Tthe Fast Forward trial gives a higher dose of radiotherapy each time it is given, but over a shorter period of time. The previous way of giving it is with a lower dose over a longer period of time.  This trial has shown -  that the 26 Gy (this is the amount of radiation given) in five fractions (this is the individual dose given each time) over 1 week is non-inferior ( is neither worse or better) to the standard (previous) of 40 Gy in 15 fractions over 3 weeks for local tumour control (risk of cancer returning in the same breast) and is as safe in terms of normal tissue effects up to 5 years (how long the patients were studied for) for patients prescribed adjuvant local radiotherapy after primary surgery for early-stage breast cancer. 

Researchers found that delivering a shorter course to women who have undergone surgery for early stage breast cancer was as safe and effective as the current standard of three weeks.

It became fairly standard practice during the pandemic to have a week of radiotherapy for early stage breast cancer and as the results have been positive and it has been widely accepted, the decision was made  to continue offering women one week of radiotherapy rather then three.

Do talk to your doctors when you go for your planning and hopefully they will be able to answer all your questions.

I do hope this helps.

If you would like to ring and chat to one of the helpline nurses then you are more then welcome to do so. Our number is Freephone 0808 800 4040 and we are here monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.

All the Best,

Catherine