Breast Cancer Radiation

Radiation therapy is important during breast cancer treatment because it kills cancer cells and helps lower the risk of the cancer coming back.

• It uses special high-energy X-rays to damage a cell’s DNA.

• It damages both cancer cells and healthy cells, but it affects cancer cells more than normal cells.

• Think of it like there’s a DNA repair crew.

• Healthy cells have repair crews that can perform DNA repairs.

• Cancer cells do not have repair crews that can perform DNA repairs as quickly.

The treatment area may include the breast, the lymph nodes, or another part of the body if the cancer has spread.

The most common radiation therapy used to treat breast cancer is external beam radiation.

• Positioning is an important part of the treatments so before your treatment begins you’ll have a simulation appt that involves positioning your body, making marks on your skin, measuring for a body mold (if applicable), and taking imaging scans.

• The treatment regimen usually includes a prescribed dosage administered every weekday for 6-7 weeks.

• The daily dosage will vary from patient to patient depending on the extent of your cancer.

• You don’t have to have someone drive you, but I found it helpful to go at the same time each day.

• Near the end they might administer boost doses which target the area where the primary tumor was located - the goal is to reduce the likelihood of breast cancer coming back.

You will have side effects that happen gradually over time; however, the actual radiation beam does not usually cause any pain.

• One of the main side effects is skin changes - it’s like a sunburn, with redness, itching, burning, soreness, peeling, blisters, or darkening of the skin - my oncologist recommended applying aloe to the affected areas and I also used a radiation relief lotion.

• You’ll want to keep any affected skin out of the sun during and after you finish your treatments.

• Another side effect is mild soreness under the armpit area - I did my lymphedema exercises to get relief.

• Another side effect is radiation on areas around the breast cancer. For example, my oncologist said that the radiation would impact ~10% of my lung. I’ve had lots of scans since then – there is scarring but no pain.

• Another side effect is general fatigue - It took 6 months for me to regain my pre-treatment energy levels.

You can prepare for radiation therapy:

• By arranging for a ride if you’re not able to drive yourself.

• By purchasing a radiation relief lotion and/or aloe vera to help with skin irritation.

• By preparing ahead of time with diet and exercise - be sure to confirm exercise with your doctor.

• Also, bring something to read or watch since occasionally they run late.

Remember that radiation is done to destroy any cancer cells that may remain after surgery or other treatments.

• This helps lower the risk of the cancer coming back.

• The benefits of radiation therapy strongly depend on getting the full recommended dose without significant breaks so stick to the schedule.

Watch our video on breast cancer radiation treatments on YouTube https://youtu.be/kX0g2SV9LNs

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