It can also strike the lungs and bones.
Fibrosis is a potentially painful, lifelong condition, as the tissue changes may be permanent.
Cell damage combined with inadequate blood can cause scarring.
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Knowing about the possibility and symptoms of fibrosis can help ease that fear.
RFS is progressive, meaning it will generally get worse without treatment.
Treatment
It may not be possible to completely cure radiation-related fibrosis.
Rather, treatment is aimed at preventing progression and maintaining or restoring function.
The exact approach depends on the location and nature of your fibrosis and whether it’s progressed to RFS.
Options include medications, non-pharmacologic therapies, and other interventions.
Pentoxifyllineis a drug that promotes blood flow in small blood vessels.
Botulinum toxin (Botox) injection may also be used for muscle spasms.
Non-pharmacologic therapies may also be helpful in alleviating symptoms.
Small studies have looked at hyperbaric oxygen therapy for treatment of radiation fibrosis, with some benefit reported.
Doctors have also explored surgical options.
This has shown some promise in rejuvenating affected skin and reducing radiation-related complications.
Avoiding large single doses of radiation is helpful.
Other strategies work by minimizing the amount of radiation delivered to healthy tissues around the tumor.
Proton-beam therapy is relatively new, but is becoming more widely available around the country.
Many people in your situation get a lot out of support groups as well.
Summary
Radiation therapy is an important tool for healthcare providers treating breast cancer.
Newer radiation treatment strategies can minimize the risk that radiation fibrosis develops at all.
Radiation-induced fibrosis can be a long-lasting, painful side effect of radiation therapy.
Patients do best when they can advocate for themselves.
Learn about treatment options and talk to your healthcare providers about your symptoms.
Be clear about how debilitating they are, and tell them which treatments help and which do not.
Prioritize your mental health.
You may benefit from counseling or support groups, which may be available in your area or online.
Frequently Asked Questions
Doctors once thought that radiation fibrosis was completely irreversible.
More recently, this assumption has been questioned.
While radiation fibrosis may not be completely curable, there are many treatments that can help.
Radiation fibrosis is scar tissue that develops in response to radiation therapy.
In the breast and chest, fibrosis can feel like a firm mass that develops over time.
Radiation can cause injury to skin, muscles, and nerves.
In some cases, pain, loss of range of motion, and muscle spasms can develop.
Several options are available to help prevent and treat radiation fibrosis.
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