It involves the use of ionizing radiation to kill cancer cells.
It can also be used inpalliative careto improve comfort and quality of life for incurable cancer.
Not everyone with breast cancer needs radiation therapy.
Verywell / Brianna Gilmartin
This article discusses the different types of radiation therapy for breast cancer and what to know about them.
Moreover, they multiply at an accelerated rate, allowing them to infiltrate normal tissues.
Radiation therapy works by damaging the cancer cell’sDNA(hereditary material).
The radiation causes cell death.
Beyond the tumor site, radiation can be used to clear cancer from nearby lymph nodes.
Knowing more about each one can help ease concerns and reduce stress.
The procedure is painless and relatively fast, but it can cause side effects.
External beam radiation treatments would start after you heal from breast surgery or complete chemotherapy.
Speak with your oncologist in advance of the procedure to determine if any ink marks will be permanent.
Each session lasts between 15 and 30 minutes.
With this treatment, stronger radiation doses are given over a shorter period of time.
Long-term side effects may also occur due to the cumulative exposure to radiation.
These include:
In the past, external beam radiation posed a significant risk of heart and lung damage.
Newer-generation machines have largely alleviated the risk by reducing radiation spillover.
After several months, the seeds will lose their radioactivity.
As with external beam radiation, brachytherapy requires careful mapping of the surgical cavity.
This feeds the radioactive source through the catheters and removes them once the fraction is complete.
In some cases, a pocket of fluid, called aseroma, may develop beneath the skin.
This requires drainage with a needle.
The charged particles, called protons, only release their energy as they reach their target.
This reduces the amount of radiation that can harm other tissues.
Side effects are similar to other types of radiation therapy, but are generally less severe.
Proton therapy has been around since 1989 and is used to treat certain cancers (includingprostate cancerandlymphoma).
Research is ongoing to determine whether it would be effective for treating breast cancer.
The cost and availability of proton therapy remain significant barriers to its use.
A Word From VeryWell
Treatment for breast cancer can seem overwhelming or confusing at times.
There are many different types of treatment, and different ways of administering each treatment.
Your healthcare provider will go over the treatment options that are most appropriate for your diagnosis.
Don’t be afraid to ask questionsthat’s what they’re there for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The length of treatment depends on what kind of radiation you are getting.
Your oncologist will let you know your schedule once the specific jot down of radiation therapy is determined.
The radiation treatment itself is painless.
The side effects that it may cause can be uncomfortable for some people, although this is often temporary.
But the radiation itself is not painful.
Radiation does cause hair loss, but only in the area being treated.
You may lose underarm hair or hair on your chest, but not the hair on your head.
Avoid tight-fitting clothing over the treated area.
This can irritate sensitive skin.
The radiated area should also be kept out of the sun to avoid further irritation.
You may experience fatigue, so be gentle with yourself and don’t overdo it.
Talk with your treatment team about do’s and don’ts with your radiation treatment.
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