Side Effects To Radiation Therapy For Breast Cancer

In rare cases radiation therapy to the breast can cause a second cancer.

Side effects to radiation therapy for breast cancer.

Radiation therapy and risk of a second cancer. What are the side effects of radiation for breast cancer. Long term side effects occur months or years after treatment has ended. Damage to healthy cells can cause side effects.

Lowered white blood cell counts. Many people who get radiation therapy have fatigue. It can happen all at once or come on slowly. Side effects of external beam radiation depending on the dose and type you may notice these during treatment.

The x rays or particles are painless and invisible. Radiation not only kills or slows the growth of cancer cells it can also affect nearby healthy cells. For women who are long term smokers radiation therapy may also increase the risk of lung cancer. On these pages you can read about the kinds of side effects you may experience over the course of your radiation treatment.

Short term side effects occur during the treatment or directly afterward usually within 6. Red swollen warm sensitive skin it might feel like you have a sunburn. Radiation therapy for breast cancer uses high energy x rays protons or other particles to kill cancer cells. Rapidly growing cells such as cancer cells are more susceptible to the effects of radiation therapy than are normal cells.

Still if you do have fears about side effects it can take away your peace of mind.