Side Effects To Radiation Therapy For Breast Cancer

Lowered white blood cell counts.

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. The most common cancers linked to radiation therapy are sarcomas cancers of the connective tissue. The x rays or particles are painless and invisible. Radiation therapy for breast cancer uses high energy x rays protons or other particles to kill cancer cells.

On these pages you can read about the kinds of side effects you may experience over the course of your radiation treatment. Red swollen warm sensitive skin it might feel like you have a sunburn. In rare cases radiation therapy to the breast can cause a second cancer. Still if you do have fears about side effects it can take away your peace of mind.

Short term side effects occur during the treatment or directly afterward usually within 6. 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. Many people who get radiation therapy have fatigue.

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. Fatigue is feeling exhausted and worn out. Damage to healthy cells can cause side effects.

For women who are long term smokers radiation therapy may also increase the risk of lung cancer.