Tests & Procedures - Radiation Therapy for Breast Cancer Treatment
Radiation Therapy for Breast Cancer Treatment
What is radiation therapy?
Radiation therapy is a process that precisely sends high levels of radiation directly to the cancer cells. The process may be accomplished by external beam radiation - sending the radiation through the skin (an x-ray-like process), or by the temporary implantation of radioactive seeds into the cancerous tissue.
Radiation done after surgery can kill small areas of cancer that may not be seen during surgery. Radiation may also be done prior to surgery to shrink the tumor, or as a palliative measure to relieve symptoms such as pain.
A radiation oncologist will plan your radiation treatment based on your medical history, physical exam, pathology and laboratory reports, and previous mammograms and surgeries. Your chest area will be marked with ink that must stay on your skin for the course of your treatments. These markings assure that the radiation will be given in the exact area.
Side effects of radiation therapy:
Possible side effects that may occur during or following radiation include:
- fatigue - especially during the later weeks of treatment.
- skin problems in the treated area, including soreness, itching, peeling, and/or redness. Toward the end of treatment, the skin may become moist and weepy.
- decreased sensation in the breast tissue.
In most cases, the effects of radiation on the skin are temporary and the skin involved in the treated area will heal after the completion of the treatments.
Oncologists carefully monitor the intensity and length of each treatment, and the area being treated. In addition, you will have regular physical exams during the course of your treatments.
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