what are the negatives regarding radiation breast cancer treatment
by Vicky Muller
Published 2 years ago
Updated 2 years ago
The main short-term side effects of external beam radiation therapy to the breast are: Swelling in the breast. Skin changes in the treated area similar to a sunburn (redness, skin peeling, darkening of the skin) Fatigue.
What are the side effects of radiation therapy for breast cancer?
Apr 21, 2022 · Fatigue is one possible side effect of radiation therapy. There are some side effects that often show up after radiation therapy, however. For instance, nausea and vomiting are some of the most common issues caused by radiation therapy for breast cancer. Fatigue is another side effect, often making it difficult to get through most work days, at least until the …
Is radiation therapy scary for breast cancer patients?
Possible side effects of external beam radiation. The main short-term side effects of external beam radiation therapy to the breast are: Swelling in the breast. Skin changes in the treated area similar to a sunburn (redness, skin peeling, darkening of the skin) Fatigue.
Does breast radiation cause lung cancer?
Oct 05, 2018 · Rare side effects of radiation can include: Nausea: Radiation can cause nausea, but this side effect is extremely rare. Rib fracture: It …
Can patients with breast cancer avoid radiation after lumpectomy?
Nausea is rare with radiation therapy to the breast. You won’t lose the hair on your head. However, you may lose some hair under your arm or on the breast or chest area getting radiation (this may be a concern for some men with breast cancer). Rare long-term side effects
What are the long-term side effects of radiation for breast cancer?
Long-term side effects can include:
Breast changes: The breasts may shrink or become more dense after radiation. ...
Brachial plexopathy: Radiation to the breast or chest wall can sometimes damage the nerves that run through the arm, wrist, and hand. ...
Lymphedema: Lymphedema is swelling of the arm, hand, or chest.
Oct 5, 2018
What are the disadvantages of radiation therapy?
What are the disadvantages? Radiotherapy can cause side effects, including tiredness, sickness and runny poo (diarrhoea). If you have chemoradiotherapy, you may get side effects from the chemotherapy.
Does breast radiation shorten your life?
Two studies have found that women diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer treated with a shorter whole-breast radiation schedule after lumpectomy have fewer side effects and better quality of life than women treated with the longer, traditional radiation schedule.Feb 22, 2022
What is a disadvantage of radiation therapy in the treatment of cancer?
The disadvantages of radiation therapy include: damage to surrounding tissues (e.g. lung, heart), depending on how close the area of interest is located to the tumor. inability to kill tumor cells that cannot be seen on imaging scans and are therefore not always included on the 3D models (e.g. in near-by lymph nodes.
What are 5 harmful effects of radiation?
Radiation Effects on Humans
Dose (rem)
Effects
5-20
Possible late effects; possible chromosomal damage.
20-100
Temporary reduction in white blood cells.
100-200
Mild radiation sickness within a few hours: vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue; reduction in resistance to infection.
Spicy Foods – Radiation often causes nausea, loose stools, or constipation. Spicy foods can further irritate the stomach and the rectum and cause discomfort. Raw Fish/Shellfish – Radiation therapy kills healthy cells in addition to cancerous cells, which could reduce the strength of your immune system.Jul 28, 2021
Is radiation worse than chemo?
The radiation beams change the DNA makeup of the tumor, causing it to shrink or die. This type of cancer treatment has fewer side effects than chemotherapy since it only targets one area of the body.Mar 27, 2020
What does breast radiation do to your body?
Radiation therapy kills cancer cells. It's often used after surgery to reduce the risk that the cancer will come back. It can also be used to provide relief from pain and other symptoms of advanced breast cancer.Mar 6, 2021
Is radiation worth the risk?
Benefits and Effectiveness. Radiation therapy (also called radiotherapy) is a highly effective cancer treatment with wide-ranging uses. Radiation therapy leads to cancer cure in many patients (either alone or with other treatments) and relieves symptoms or prolongs survival in more advanced cancers.Oct 20, 2020
What is the most common acute side effect of radiation treatment?
Fatigue is the most common acute side effect of radiation therapy. It is believed to be caused by the large amount of energy that is used by the body to heal itself in response to radiation therapy. Most people begin to feel fatigued about 2 weeks after radiation treatments begin.
How long does it take to recover from breast cancer radiotherapy?
You may start to notice side effects about 2 weeks after you start radiation therapy. They may get worse during your radiation therapy, but they'll slowly get better over 6 to 8 weeks after your last treatment. Some side effects may take longer to go away.Jul 19, 2021
