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TREATMENT > Radiation therapy
RADIATION THERAPY
In radiation therapy, high energy x-rays are used to destroy cancer cells.
Radiation therapy is usually given after surgery. The goal of radiation therapy after surgery is to destroy any cancer cells that might remain in the breast area after surgery. Radiation is intended to help reduce the risk of recurrence (the cancer coming back).
For very large breast cancers, radiation therapy may be given before surgery. The goal of radiation therapy given before surgery is to shrink the tumour so that it is easier to perform the operation.
The most common type of radiation treatment is external beam radiation therapy. At the start of your therapy, the radiation team will plan your treatment and make small, tattoo-like marks on your skin. These marks allow the team to properly direct the radiation each time you visit. Typically you will receive one session every day, five days a week, for a period of three to six weeks. Usually each session lasts only a few minutes.
Internal radiation therapy, also called brachytherapy, is also based on the use of radiation to kill cancer cells. However, instead of using an external beam, the radiation is applied in the form of small radioactive pellets that are implanted in the breast next to the cancer.
Side effects may arise during radiation therapy because x-rays can harm healthy cells as well as cancer cells. The dose of radiation is carefully monitored to have the most impact on the cancer while doing the least harm to healthy cells. The effects of radiation also add up over time. For these reasons, a person’s total exposure to radiation is limited. If a person received a course of radiation therapy to the affected breast or the chest wall in the past, radiation may not be recommended again because of increased health risks. Radiation is also not recommended for pregnant women.
Some of the possible short-term side effects of radiation therapy include skin redness, sunburn-like skin changes, swelling, and fatigue. These side effects should go away within a few weeks to a few months after the treatment is complete.
See your doctor for further discussion of possible side effects.
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