Introduction to Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy is used in conjunction with lumpectomy to help kill any cancer cells that are still in your breast after the tumor and surrounding tissue are removed. Radiation therapy reduces the chance of cancer returning to the same breast.

Most women receive external radiation therapy. It is usually given during outpatient visits to a hospital or treatment center. This process is like having an x-ray. There are different machines for external radiation, depending on the kind and location of your cancer.

Radiation itself doesn't hurt, but it can have side effects. The most common is changes in your skin, which may appear sunburned and may darken over time - for some women the changes may persist. Some women get fatigued during the course of their treatment, but many continue to work or go about their usual activities.

Caption: A radiation therapy unit

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy directs high-energy particles at the normal tissue in your breast that once surrounded the cancer. The first time, your therapist will mark your skin with tiny dots of ink to outline the treatment area. This will help to direct the beam correctly for the weeks of treatment.

Radiation therapy is usually given 5 days a week for 6 to 7 weeks. Weekend rest breaks allow normal cells to recover. This schedule helps protect your healthy body tissues by spreading out the total dose of radiation. The radiation dose and the number of treatments you need will depend on the size and location of your cancer, type of tumor, your general health, and any other treatments you may be receiving.

Your radiation sessions will take only 1 to 5 minutes per day. You will not see or hear the radiation, and you most likely won't feel anything during the sessions.

Skin Side Effects

Your skin may appear sunburned and may darken over time when you undergo radiation therapy. Sometimes these changes return to normal, but some women are left with permanent skin changes Ð their breast may look or feel a little different.

You may notice that your skin in the treatment area may become reddened, irritated, sunburned, or tanned. After a few weeks you may have dry skin from the therapy.

With some kinds of radiation, treated skin may develop a moist reaction, especially in areas where there are skin folds. When this happens, the skin is wet and it may become very sore. It is important to tell your health care provider if you notice this kind of reaction. She or he can give you suggestions on how to keep these areas dry. Most skin reactions to radiation therapy should go away a few weeks after treatment is finished. In some cases, though, the treated skin will remain darker than it was before radiation therapy.

Caption: A patient receiving radiation therapy.

Managing Side Effects

• Talk to your health care provider about side effects your might be experiencing.
• Be sure to get plenty of rest. Sleep as often as you feel the need to.
• Limit your activity and use your leisure time in a restful way.
• Good nutrition is important. Try to eat a balanced diet.
• Be sure your health care provider knows about any medicines you are taking before treatment.

Guidelines for your skin:

• Be extra kind to the skin in the treatment area.
• Do not use adhesive tape on treated skin.
• Wear loose, soft cotton clothing over the treated area.
• Do not starch your clothes.
• Protect the area from the sun.
• Do not rub or scrub treated skin.

Fortunately, most skin side effects will go away in a short time. If you happen to have a side effect that persists or is severe, your health care provider might prescribe a break in your treatments or change the kind of treatment that you are receiving.

Radiation Therapy Questions and Answers

It is given for 5 days a week for 6 or 7 weeks. Each session lasts about 15 to 30 minutes, but you will be getting your dose of radiation for only about 1 minute of this time. Some women may be given an extra "boost" of radiation to the site of the tumor at the end of the entire course of treatment.

Is external radiation therapy painful?

You most likely won't see or feel anything during your actual treatment, but it can leave changes in your skin's appearance. You may also feel tiredness, a skin reaction like sunburn, or itching and peeling of the skin. Many women have no side effects at all.

You do NOT become nauseated or vomit from radiation to your breast, and it does NOT cause you to lose your hair.

Will external radiation therapy affect my daily life?

The radiation may make you feel tired. You may want to plan less activities at work or home. You must go to the hospital 5 days a week. If you don't live near one, this may require a lot of driving.

Will my radiation therapy harm people around me?

External Radiation does not cause your body to become radioactive. There is no need to avoid being with other people because of your treatment. Even hugging, kissing and having sexual relations with someone will not expose them to radiation.

Personal Radiation Therapy Experiences

Virginia's experience

They radiated me from two different sides and there's no pain. Radiation is no pain at all. They just lay you on the table with your arm up and they mark all over your breast with black markings, and they lay a mold underneath to conform to the way you have to be laying on the table when you have your radiation. Most people are apprehensive about that, when the mold is being taken and the markings are all being done. The black markings were something that bothers a lot of people, and it bothered me, too, because I was afraid of losing all those marks when I showered. And of course, the hot flashes, perspiration destroyed them, too. But they just go on ahead and they just mark you up again.