Radiation therapy before breast reconstruction surgery for cancer

When breast cancer requires both mastectomy (breast removal) and radiation therapy, doctors face a difficult choice: delay breast reconstruction for months or years, or do it immediately and risk serious complications. This trial is testing a new approach—giving radiation therapy before the reconstruction surgery instead of after—to see if this order reduces complications and improves how the reconstructed breast looks and feels.

Currently, combining radiation therapy with immediate breast reconstruction has very high complication rates (up to 40%), which can cause infection, implant loss, pain, and poor cosmetic results. This trial exists to find a better approach that lets patients have immediate reconstruction without sacrificing safety or appearance.