Side Effects From Radiotherapy For Breast Cancer

In rare cases radiation therapy to the breast can cause a second cancer.

Side effects from radiotherapy for breast cancer.

Radiotherapy can cause side effects. Not everyone experiences side effects of radiation. Serious side effects are very rare and experts agree that the benefits of radiotherapy in reducing the chances of breast cancer returning outweigh the risk of possible side effects. Find out about the side effects of external radiotherapy for breast cancer and how to cope with them.

Find out about planning radiotherapy for breast cancer how you have treatment and about the possible side effects. Just as the benefits of radiation are gradual you ll usually see a gradual onset of side effects. Radiotherapy to the breast or under the arm can cause hardening of the tissue. Radiotherapy for breast cancer.

The effects can start after a couple of weeks of treatment. Doctors may recommend this therapy in combination with others such as surgery and chemotherapy. Radiation therapy has side effects because it not only kills or slows the growth of cancer cells it can also affect nearby healthy cells. Learn more about possible side effects.

Many patients are surprised to discover that having radiation therapy is less difficult than they expected though the radiation used to damage cancer in your body can also damage healthy cells. This is known as fibrosis. Radiotherapy uses high energy x rays to kill cancer cells. Other side effects depend on the part of the body that is being treated.

Bladder problems fertility problems. Many people who get radiation therapy experience fatigue. Radiation therapy and risk of a second cancer. Side effects of radiotherapy.

Radiation therapy to the pelvis for example as treatment for bladder ovarian or prostate cancer can cause side effects such as. They continue to get worse during the treatment and after the treatment has finished.