Side Effects Of External Beam Radiation Therapy For Breast Cancer

Radiation can be an effective treatment for breast cancer but it does have side effects.

Side effects of external beam radiation therapy for breast cancer.

In this technique a large machine called a linear accelerator aims a beam of high energy radiation at the breast affected by the cancer. External whole breast radiation sometimes called external beam whole breast radiation is the most common type of radiation. This is the most common type of radiation therapy for women with breast cancer. Other side effects depend on the part of the body that is being treated.

Radiation therapy damages cancer cells. Radiation therapy for breast cancer uses high energy x rays protons or other particles to kill cancer cells. These side effects tend to be short term mild and treatable. Rapidly growing cells such as cancer cells are more susceptible to the effects of radiation therapy than are normal cells.

Many people who get radiation therapy experience fatigue. A machine is used to aim high energy rays or beams from outside the body into the tumor. Early side effects happen during or shortly after treatment. Radiation therapy has side effects because it not only kills or slows the growth of cancer cells it can also affect nearby healthy cells.

Side effects are caused by damage to healthy cells. Different cells and tissues in the body tolerate radiation differently. Early and late effects of radiation therapy. A machine outside the body focuses the radiation on the area affected by the cancer.

Healthy cells in the treatment area can also be damaged even though steps are taken to protect normal tissue as much as possible. They re usually gone within a few weeks after treatment ends. The main types of radiation therapy that can be used to treat breast cancer are external beam radiation therapy ebrt and brachytherapy. Doctors may recommend this therapy in combination with others such as surgery and chemotherapy.

Radiation technology allows the very careful delivery of external beam radiation therapy. Learn more about possible side effects.