Side Effects To Radiation Therapy For Breast Cancer

Damage to healthy cells can cause side effects.

Side effects to radiation therapy for breast cancer.

Rapidly growing cells such as cancer cells are more susceptible to the effects of radiation therapy than are normal cells. Fatigue is feeling exhausted and worn out. Radiation therapy for breast cancer uses high energy x rays protons or other particles to kill cancer cells. Radiation therapy and risk of a second cancer.

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. Lowered white blood cell counts. Short term side effects occur during the treatment or directly afterward usually within 6.

What are the side effects of radiation for breast cancer. The most common cancers linked to radiation therapy are sarcomas cancers of the connective tissue. Side effects of external beam radiation depending on the dose and type you may notice these during treatment. In rare cases radiation therapy to the breast can cause a second cancer.

Red swollen warm sensitive skin it might feel like you have a sunburn. Many people who get radiation therapy have fatigue. Still if you do have fears about side effects it can take away your peace of mind. Read about the how radiation affects the skin in the managing skin side effects pages.

The x rays or particles are painless and invisible.