Side Effects To Radiation Therapy For Breast Cancer

Radiation therapy for breast cancer uses high energy x rays protons or other particles to kill cancer cells.

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. Radiation not only kills or slows the growth of cancer cells it can also affect nearby healthy cells. In rare cases radiation therapy to the breast can cause a second cancer.

For women who are long term smokers radiation therapy may also increase the risk of lung cancer. It can happen all at once or come on slowly. Still if you do have fears about side effects it can take away your peace of mind. Damage to healthy cells can cause side effects.

On these pages you can read about the kinds of side effects you may experience over the course of your radiation treatment. Fatigue is feeling exhausted and worn out. Read about the how radiation affects the skin in the managing skin side effects pages. 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. Many people who get radiation therapy have fatigue. The most common cancers linked to radiation therapy are sarcomas cancers of the connective tissue. Lowered white blood cell counts.

The x rays or particles are painless and invisible.