Radiation is an Important Part of Breast Cancer Treatment
If you are diagnosed with breast cancer then your doctor will discuss all of your treatment options with you. The recommended treatment depends in part on the type of cancer that you have and the stage of your cancer. A lot of terms may be discussed and it is important to understand all of them. One term that you might here often is radiation.
What is Radiation Treatment?
Radiation uses X-rays to target the cancerous cells and kill them. Often, it is used after surgery to remove the cancerous growth. The use of radiation after surgery makes sure that all of the cancer is killed and that the patient is cancer free. The biggest risk associated with radiation is that it will harm the healthy tissue surrounding the cancer. The radiation oncologist who will be conducting the treatment meets with the patient for planning sessions prior to the treatment. During the planning sessions, the oncologist will make small dots on the body which mark exactly where the radiation should go.
Radiation sessions are typically short (less than one half hour) and are held several times a week for several weeks. The patient is positioned on a special X-ray table and then the radiation is administered.
Side Effects of Radiation
During treatment, the patient may be tired and the affected breast may feel sore. The skin may appear red and warm like sunburned skin would appear. The patient's medical team can recommend special creams to treat the skin and usually over the counter pain relievers can take care of any discomfort.
Some women notice puckering around the radiation site or that the affected breast gets smaller. This can be a temporary or a permanent change. If the axillary lymph nodes are treated then there can be a collection of fluid in the arm that causes it to swell.
Generally, radiation does not cause the same discomforts as chemotherapy. However, there are four rare side effects of which to be aware. Some women will experience rib fractures if the treatment is done close to the rib cage. If radiation is given to the left breast then there can be heart problems, however this is becoming more and more unusual as the technology improves. Pneumonitis can occur and cause uncomfortable symptoms but it is almost always temporary.
Finally, the nerves can be affected and cause tingling, pain and weakness to the arm which can be temporary or permanent.
Situations When Radiation Should Not Be Used
Radiation is a good option for most women. However, women with certain kinds of lupus or scleroderma should not undergo radiation. Also, if a woman is pregnant then radiation should not be done because it could hurt the fetus. If the cancer is detected late in the pregnancy then the woman might be able to have it surgically removed and have radiation treatment after she gives birth.
It is also important to note that once an area of the body has received radiation treatment is not eligible for further radiation. So, if a woman's left breast has already undergone radiation therapy and the cancer returns then radiation will not be part of the treatment plan.
Radiation is a useful and necessary cancer treatment that produces good results and few side effects in most breast cancer patients. However, like any medical treatment, it is important to discuss your treatment plan and the potential side effects with your oncologist prior to beginning therapy.