New Radiation Therapies Offer Hope for Breast Cancer Patients

Innovative techniques limit radiation exposure to healthy tissues while effectively targeting cancer cells.

By Meg Fry, Contributing Writer On Oct 8, 2025

Breast cancer remains the most common cancer among women in the United States, with higher rates of diagnosis in New Jersey compared to the national average. According to the Cancer Health Equity Center of Excellence at Rutgers Cancer Institute, 177 out of every 100,000 women in New Jersey were diagnosed with breast cancer between 2017 and 2021 – and the American Cancer Society estimates that 8,880 new cases of female breast cancer are diagnosed each year in the state, with 1,170 breast cancer-related deaths annually. 

As breast cancer diagnoses continue to rise, medical advancements in radiation therapy have significantly improved the precision and effectiveness of treatment. These breakthroughs not only enhance patient health outcomes, but also help reduce side effects, improve quality of life, and minimize financial burdens on patients. 

“Over the last couple of decades, there’s been a tremendous amount of success in both managing and curing the disease – so much so that there are now efforts to deescalate the toxicity of treatments without diminishing efficacy,” says Dr. Anthony Dragun, chairman and chief of the Department of Radiation Oncology at MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper University Health Care. 

Radiation therapy, though lifesaving, can have significant physical and mental effects on breast cancer patients. In recent years, however, new techniques have emerged that aim to limit radiation exposure to healthy tissues while still effectively targeting cancer cells. “Techniques like deep inspiration breath hold (DIBH), prone positioning, and Surface Guided Radiation Therapy (SGRT), paired with the TrueBeam linear accelerator, represent a new standard in breast cancer radiation therapy that prioritizes precision and protection,” explains Dr. Payal Soni, a radiation oncologist with Astera Cancer Care who sees patients at Saint Peter’s University Hospital in New Brunswick. 

DIBH is particularly beneficial for patients with left-sided breast cancers. During treatment, patients take a deep breath and hold it, causing their lungs to expand and moving the heart away from the chest wall to shield it from radiation. 

Prone positioning, where patients lie on their stomachs, also helps reduce radiation exposure to the heart and lungs. As the breast falls away from the chest during treatment, less radiation reaches vital organs, thereby increasing safety. 

SGRT, used in conjunction with the TrueBeam linear accelerator, represents the latest innovation in radiation therapy. This cutting-edge system uses surface-mapping cameras to track a patient’s position, automatically pausing the radiation beam if any movement is detected. This ensures that radiation is delivered with pinpoint accuracy, even as patients breathe or make slight adjustments during treatment. 

“We want to preserve the patient’s quality of life during and after treatment, not just treat the cancer,” Dr. Soni adds. 

Saint Peter’s University Hospital has taken a holistic approach to cancer care by incorporating rehabilitation services, such as physical, occupational, and speech therapy, as well as nutrition and mental health support. This multidisciplinary model helps patients manage the physical, emotional, and psychological tolls of cancer treatment. 

Lymphedema, a common complication following surgery and radiation, is one example where early intervention is crucial: “Early intervention is the key to preventing complications, managing symptoms, and enhancing recovery after cancer treatment,” says Dr. Henry K. Tsai, chair of radiation oncology at Saint Peter’s University Hospital. 

Reducing the length of radiation therapy has also become a key focus in breast cancer treatment. Traditionally, patients undergoing radiation for breast cancer faced daily treatments for six to eight weeks. However, recent advancements in technology and treatment protocols have significantly shortened this timeline. 

“Today, we’re doing maybe three weeks of daily treatment, and, in some cases, just one week,” says Dr. Dragun. “I just saw a patient today who started treatment on Monday and is finishing on Saturday.”

Shorter treatment courses benefit patients not only by allowing them to return to their daily lives more quickly, but also by reducing incidences of side effects – all without compromising the effectiveness of therapy, Dr. Dragun adds. In fact, they often improve patient compliance, as fewer treatment sessions reduce the time and effort required for costly, daily visits to the clinic. 

Expanding access to cutting-edge radiation technology is another vital step in enhancing care for breast cancer patients. MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, one of the nation’s leading cancer centers, has been collaborating with Cooper University Health Care since 2013 to bring advanced cancer care to the residents of Cape May and Atlantic counties. 

This partnership has recently led to the opening of a new radiation oncology suite at the Cooper University Health Care Moorestown Campus and at Cooper University Hospital Cape Regional, both of which are now equipped with advanced treatment technologies, including the TrueBeam linear accelerator. 

“By having this technology available at multiple locations, you can treat more patients in less time,” Dr. Dragun says. “The manpower and machine power used for just one patient can now be used for three to six. 

“By following the most up-to-date, evidence-based treatment guidelines, we can maximize the impact of these advanced treatments.” 

That impact includes financial benefits for the entire health system: “The fewer number of treatments you have, the fewer procedures that need to be performed on a patient, and the more money is saved by the medical system as a whole,” Dr. Dragun adds. “It’s lower cost to the system, and it’s lowest cost to the patient.”

Dr. Dragun credits international collaboration for driving many of these recent breakthroughs in cancer care, with Europe in particular being “forward-thinking enough to see de-escalation of treatment as an opportunity.” 

He also sees the Cooper University Health Care expansion model as one of the most viable for use around the globe. 

“In radiation oncology, we’re looking to deliver radiation faster and more precisely,” Dr. Dragun concludes. “This model is more scalable around the world than building cancer centers in every community.”

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