The purpose of this research study is to find out the effects (good and bad) of adding a dose of radiation to the area of the cancer during surgery to whole breast radiation therapy (WBRT) after surgery. IOERT is the application of electron radiation directly to the residual tumor or tumor bed during cancer surgery. WBRT is a type of radiation therapy used to treat patients who have cancer in the breast covering the entire breast tissue. Both immediate and long-term effects will be measured.
For patients with certain types of breast cancer, one standard treatment is removal of the area of cancer and a small amount of normal tissue around it followed by breast radiation. The radiation treatment in this situation usually lasts 3 to 5 1/2 weeks of WBRT followed by 5-8 daily radiation treatments at the site where the lump was removed called a "boost". During this study, the single dose of electron irradiation (IOERT) given at the surgical site during the operation will replace the usual 5-8 days of localized radiation and the whole breast radiation will last 3 weeks.
