Long Term Side Effects Of Radiation Therapy For Breast Cancer

If your doctor recommends radiation there is a chance you will experience both short term and long term side effects as with any treatment.

Long term side effects of radiation therapy for breast cancer.

The skin may be more or less sensitive and feel thicker and firmer than it was before treatment. Other side effects depend on the part of the body that is being treated. Many people who get radiation therapy experience fatigue. Just as there can be long term side effects of chemotherapy radiation therapy may result in side effects that may begin and linger far after treatment has been completed these can include heart problems lung problems thyroid problems secondary cancers and more but it s important.

Long term side effects can last beyond a year after treatment. Learn more about possible side effects. In rare cases radiation therapy to the breast can cause a second cancer. The breasts may shrink or become more dense after radiation some women.

Long term changes to the breast. They may include a slight darkening of your skin enlarged pores on your breast more or less sensitive skin thickening of breast tissue. Radiation therapy may cause long term changes in the breast. This may include surgery like a lumpectomy or mastectomy hormone therapy chemo therapy or radiation also called radiotherapy.

Your skin may be slightly darker and pores may be larger and more noticeable. The most common cancers linked to radiation therapy are sarcomas cancers of the connective tissue. For women who are long term smokers radiation therapy may also increase the risk of lung cancer. Concern over long term side effects of radiation therapy is becoming more common as survival rates improve.

Radiation therapy has side effects because it not only kills or slows the growth of cancer cells it can also affect nearby healthy cells. Wednesday march 13 healthday news radiation treatment for breast cancer given after breast conserving surgery and sometimes after mastectomy is known to reduce the risk of the cancer.