Radiation therapy (also called radiotherapy) uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells. It affects cells only in the part of the body that is treated with the radiation. Breast cancer radiation therapy may be used to destroy any remaining mutated cells that remain in the breast or armpit area after surgery.
Note: There are special situations in which radiation is used for women with metastatic breast cancer experiencing painful bone metastasis. This section however focused on the use of radiation for adjuvant therapy (treatment given after the main treatment to lower the chance of breast cancer returning).
Who should expect to be prescribed radiation therapy and what is involved?
Some people with Stage 0 (DCIS) and most people with Stage 1 invasive cancer and higher, who have had a lumpectomy, can expect radiation therapy to be a part of their treatment regimen.
Radiation therapy may also be recommended after mastectomy for patients with high risk of disease recurrence.
What Are The Different Kinds of Radiation Therapy?
Most radiation therapy is administered by a radiation oncologist at a radiation center and usually begins three to four weeks after surgery. The radiation is used to destroy undetectable cancer cells and reduce the risk of cancer recurring in the affected breast.
There are two main kinds of radiation therapy that may be considered, and some people have both.
- External Beam Breast Cancer Radiation
- Internal Breast Cancer Radiation
Keep in mind that the course of treatment you decide is something you should discuss with your radiation oncologist in order to ensure that it is as effective as possible.
External Beam Breast Cancer Radiation
External beam radiation (also known as traditional or whole breast radiation therapy) uses external beam radiation, like that of a regular x-ray, but the beam is highly focused and targets the cancerous area for two to three minutes. This form of treatment usually involves multiple appointments in an outpatient radiation center — as many as five days a week for five or six weeks. Certain situations may require a slightly higher dose of radiation over a shorter course of treatment, usually three to four weeks (called accelerated radiation.)
External breast cancer radiation used to be the most common type used for breast cancer. However in more recent years internal radiation clinical trials have enabled more women to opt for this method if their cancer was caught early enough. Internal radiation typically offers fewer noticeable side effects.
Internal Breast Cancer Radiation
Also called intraoperative Radiotherapy or IORT. It is a more intensive radiation treatment used during surgery. It is delivered to the surgical cavity after removing the tumor. It is used in selected cases of early breast cancer, and may be combined with external radiation therapy as well.
What Are The Side Effects Of Radiation?
The most common side-effects are:
- Sunburn-type skin irritation of the targeted area (which may range from mild to intense)
- Red, dry, tender, or itchy skin
- Breast heaviness
- Discoloration, redness, or a bruised appearance
- General fatigue
What should I do about side effects from breast cancer radiation?
If you experience difficulty from side effects, you should discuss them with your doctor, who may be able to suggest ways you can treat side effects and help yourself feel more comfortable. These problems usually go away over a short period of time, but there may be a lasting change in the color of your skin.
Here are some good general tips for dealing with the most common side effects of radiation:
- Bras and tight clothes may rub your skin and cause soreness. You may want to wear loose-fitting cotton clothes during this time.
- Gentle skin care also is important. You should check with your doctor before using any deodorants, lotions, or creams on the treated area.
- You need to be aware that more intense treatment methods will tax your body. During radiation therapy, it is essential to take good care of yourself by getting extra rest and making good nutrition a priority.
- Although resting is important, doctors usually advise patients to try to stay active too, unless it leads to pain or other problems. Routine exercise has been proven to reduce the degree of fatigue patients experience from radiation therapy.
- You may wish to discuss with your doctor the possible long-term effects of radiation therapy. For example, radiation therapy to the chest may harm the lung or heart. Also, it can change the size of your breast and the way it looks. If any of these problems occur, your oncology team can tell you how to manage them.
