Side Effects Of Radiation Therapy For Breast Cancer Long Term

Many people who get radiation therapy experience fatigue.

Side effects of radiation therapy for breast cancer long term.

However you may lose some hair under your arm or on the breast or chest area getting radiation this may be a concern for some men with breast cancer. The breasts may shrink or become more dense after radiation some women. In this case breast fibrosis is a direct result of radiation damaging your skin s elasticity. Long term side effects occur months or years after treatment has ended.

Your doctor will talk to you about the possible long term effects before you start your treatment. Long term side effects can include. Just as there can be long term side effects of chemotherapy radiation therapy may result in side effects that may begin and linger far after treatment has been completed these can include heart problems lung problems thyroid problems secondary cancers and more but it s important. Learn more about possible side effects.

Swelling in the breast. Possible side effects of external radiation. However breast fibrosis can also be long term side effect of radiotherapy. You won t lose the hair on your head.

Rare short or long term side effects. Skin changes in the treated area similar to a sunburn redness skin peeling darkening of the skin fatigue. Nausea is rare with radiation therapy to the breast. Long term side effects of radiotherapy.

You may hear your doctor refer to it as breast fibrosis or glandular atrophy or radiation fibrosis syndrome rfs. Other side effects depend on the part of the body that is being treated. Radiation therapy has side effects because it not only kills or slows the growth of cancer cells it can also affect nearby healthy cells. The main short term side effects of external beam radiation therapy to the breast are.