Side Effects To Radiation Therapy For Breast Cancer

Fatigue is feeling exhausted and worn out.

Side effects to radiation therapy for breast cancer.

Read about the how radiation affects the skin in the managing skin side effects pages. The x rays or particles are painless and invisible. The most common cancers linked to radiation therapy are sarcomas cancers of the connective tissue. In rare cases radiation therapy to the breast can cause a second cancer.

Lowered white blood cell counts. Radiation therapy and risk of a second cancer. What are the side effects of radiation for breast cancer. Still if you do have fears about side effects it can take away your peace of mind.

Radiation not only kills or slows the growth of cancer cells it can also affect nearby healthy cells. Damage to healthy cells can cause side effects. For women who are long term smokers radiation therapy may also increase the risk of lung cancer. On these pages you can read about the kinds of side effects you may experience over the course of your radiation treatment.

Red swollen warm sensitive skin it might feel like you have a sunburn. Long term side effects occur months or years after treatment has ended. Radiation therapy for breast cancer uses high energy x rays protons or other particles to kill cancer cells. Rapidly growing cells such as cancer cells are more susceptible to the effects of radiation therapy than are normal cells.

It can happen all at once or come on slowly.