Radiation Therapy In Breast Cancer

Radiation therapy is an important part in the treatment of breast cancer, always being administered individually and trying to avoid its harmful effects as far as possible .

Radiation therapy consists of the use of ionizing radiation to treat tumors. The two types of radiation most commonly used to kill cancer cells are X-rays and gamma rays. Radiation therapy is used in breast cancer but also in many types of cancer such as bladder or lung.

Breast cancer is the most frequent in the female population, although in Spain the incidence is not so high. Currently, and thanks to surgery and radiotherapy programs, recurrence rates in the breast have dropped to 5% in the 10 years after treatment.

Radiation therapy in breast cancer

The goal of radiation therapy is to destroy tumor cells by disturbing the surrounding healthy tissues as little as possible. Radiation therapy is usually used after other types of surgery or mastectomies, seeking to eradicate any type of tumor cell that may have remained in the body.

There are two reasons why this type of treatment is carried out in breast cancer:

• Prophylaxis. In this way, it is possible to reduce the possibility of complications and relapses.
• Relief of symptoms caused by cancer itself.

Types of radiation therapy

In breast cancer, a type of radiation therapy known as external radiation therapy is generally used . In this treatment, the source of radiation is outside the body.

However, before starting radiotherapy, a planning of what the treatment will be must be made. The specific area to be irradiated, the particular characteristics of the patient and the radiation doses that the nearby organs will receive must be determined.

How long does radiotherapy treatment last?

Radiation therapy for breast cancer usually lasts around 4-7 weeks. The dose administered and the number of sessions scheduled can cause this time period to vary.

This is so because if the radiation dose were applied in a single session it could lead to very serious damage to the body. Allowing tissues to remain undamaged and controlling the volume of radiation the body receives are the main reasons for fragmenting treatment.

Side effects

Some of the side effects that may appear during radiotherapy treatment are the following:

• Asthenia. Although radiation therapy for breast cancer is usually well tolerated, fatigue can occur temporarily. It is advisable not to carry out serious efforts during treatment.

• Burns and skin reactions. During the application of radiotherapy, it is common for an erythema to appear in the irradiated area, which will disappear with the end of the treatment. It is also recommended not to expose these areas to the sun until a few months after radiotherapy.

• Hair loss. It is limited to the parts of the skin that receive radiation but appears very frequently two to three weeks after starting treatment.

• Edema.

• Long-term effects, such as a decrease in the size of the breast and an increase in its consistency.

Recommendations for skin care

Some of the recommendations that are given to keep the skin in good condition after radiotherapy are the following:

• Wash the skin with warm water and mild soaps.
• Avoid both very hot and very cold water.
• Try to avoid trauma and sun exposure, especially in the case of irradiated areas.
• Avoid the use of creams or lotions, using only those recommended by the doctor himself.