Radiation dosage

BCdeb

It does not vary in dose according to breast size. The technique may vary to make the dosing more uniform but the dose is dependent on your stage and risk factors upon which there is -frankly- some controversy in the Rad Onc med literature. My Rad Onc for example advised me 28 fractions ( 5040 mGy) whole breast and 8 fractions ( 1600) boost, but other radonc I consulted said 5040 and 1000 boost would be enough and they both looked at same patient same pathology and practice in same city.

I also learned that how much whole breast vs boost combos a woman is advised to get varies less by her tumor and more by where the doc trained or what the hospital standard practice is... one may be 4680WB+1400 boost; another may advise 4860 + 1200.......

It is very disconcerting if you are the one getting the radiation and would like to have the least possible to do the most good and minimize harm.... they don't really know. It's a gamble based on statistics and for both recurrence and side effects.