Side Effects To Radiation Therapy For Breast Cancer

Many people who get radiation therapy have fatigue.

Side effects to radiation therapy for breast cancer.

In rare cases radiation therapy to the breast can cause a second cancer. Red swollen warm sensitive skin it might feel like you have a sunburn. Fatigue is feeling exhausted and worn out. Still if you do have fears about side effects it can take away your peace of mind.

What are the side effects of radiation for breast cancer. Read about the how radiation affects the skin in the managing skin side effects pages. Short term side effects occur during the treatment or directly afterward usually within 6. Radiation therapy for breast cancer uses high energy x rays protons or other particles to kill cancer cells.

Radiation therapy and risk of a second cancer. Side effects of external beam radiation depending on the dose and type you may notice these during treatment. The most common cancers linked to radiation therapy are sarcomas cancers of the connective tissue. On these pages you can read about the kinds of side effects you may experience over the course of your radiation treatment.

For women who are long term smokers radiation therapy may also increase the risk of lung cancer. It can happen all at once or come on slowly. Radiation not only kills or slows the growth of cancer cells it can also affect nearby healthy cells. Long term side effects occur months or years after treatment has ended.

Damage to healthy cells can cause side effects.