McKesson Clinical Reference Systems: Women's Health Advisor 2002.2

What is radiation therapy for breast cancer?

Radiation therapy uses high-energy radiation (x-rays) to shrink or destroy a tumor in the breast and/or to help stop the cancer from coming back.

Radiation therapy is usually used with:

• chemotherapy (medicine used to destroy cancer cells)
• surgery to try to remove the cancer.

You should ask your health care provider about these treatments. You may choose not to have treatment but you should ask your health care provider how this may increase your risk. Also ask your radiation oncologist how the radiation will affect you.

How should I prepare for this procedure?

Follow your health care provider's instructions. You should wear clothes that are easy to take off.

What happens during the procedure?

First you will need to take off the clothing covering your chest. The radiation therapist will ask you to lie on a treatment table and raise your arms over your head. The therapist will use the ink marks she or he made on you at an earlier visit to make sure the radiation is aimed at the correct place(s).

If you have had your breast removed, you may have a bolus (a cold, rubberlike mat) placed on top of your chest. The therapist will help you lie in the correct position and leave you alone in the treatment room. She or he will watch you on a TV monitor and you can talk with the therapist over an intercom. You will hear the radiation machine buzz for about 30 seconds as it sends radiation to the specific area marked on your body. You may have one or more of these treatments done from other angles.

The treatment is painless. Each session takes between 15 and 30 minutes. When the session is over, the therapist will help you off the table and you may go home.

You will receive radiation therapy 5 days a week for 4 to 7 weeks. During the weeks of treatment the therapist weighs you and may do tests, such as blood cell counts, to check the effect the radiation is having on your body.

What happens after the procedure?

You should talk with your radiation oncologist and the staff about your diet, caring for your skin, and ways to care for yourself. The skin in the treatment area may become red. It may peel like a sunburn. Also, you may lose hair in the treatment area. Check first with the radiation therapist before you use any drugs or products such as shampoo or makeup while you are getting radiation treatment. You may notice you do not feel like eating. You may also find you need more rest as you have more treatments.

Try to keep your arms limber. They may be sore. The therapist will give you some exercises to help your arms move easily. You should protect your skin from the sun by keeping it covered with clothing.

After your last session, the staff will wipe off the ink marks on your body. Even though you will no longer be receiving treatments, the radiation keeps acting on the cancer for several weeks. The side effects of the radiation should go away a few weeks after the end of therapy.

Your breast may feel firm or change in size. You should continue to perform breast self-exams. You should take special care of the arm on the side of the treatment, trying to avoid hurting or stressing it.

Ask your radiation oncologist how active you can be and how often you should return to the radiation and oncology clinic for checkups. Keep on seeing your regular health care provider for your other health care needs.

What are the benefits of this procedure?

The cancer may be destroyed or slowed down.

What are the risks associated with this procedure?

• There is a risk of hurting the healthy cells or forming scar tissue.
• Your skin could be hurt or get darker.
• Your arm on the side of treatment may swell. It may become infected more easily.
• If you are having both radiation therapy and chemotherapy, you may have more side effects.
• The radiation therapy may not destroy all the cancer.
• The cancer may come back.

You should ask your health care provider how these risks apply to you.

When should I call the health care provider?

Call your health care provider immediately if:

• You get a fever.
• You have unexpected pain.
• You develop swelling in your arm.

Call you health care provider during office hours if:

• You have questions about your treatment.

This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information is intended to inform and educate and is not a replacement for medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.