Radiotherapy (breast cancer)
Radiotherapy is the use of high energy x-rays to destroy cancer cells.
Rapidly growing cells such as cancer cells are more susceptible to the effects of radiation therapy than normal cells. The x-rays are painless and invisible. The treatment does not make you radioactive and it safe to be around other people after treatment including children.
Why is it given?
Radiation is an effective way to reduce your risk of breast cancer recurring after surgery. It may be given to the remaining breast tissue in the case of breast conservation, or to the chest wall (after mastectomy) and in some cases to the regional lymph nodes.
In secondary disease it is commonly used to ease the symptoms caused by cancer that has spread to other parts of the body.
How is it given?
Radiation therapy may be delivered externally or internally.
For breast cancer this is normally external beam radiotherapy, meaning radiation from a machine outside your body (a linear accelerator) that delivers the treatment.
Planning radiotherapy
You will need to see the team first to plan your radiotherapy treatment. A CT scan will then be done within the radiotherapy department to plan the treatment.
Treatment is normally 5 to 15 daily sessions, depending on the clinical situation.
It will be normally be given within 6 to 12 weeks of your operation, depending on how your wound is healing. If it is delivered after chemotherapy treatment, it normally starts a month later than the final chemotherapy date.
Side effects of treatment
In the short term, you may experience fatigue and a localised skin reaction in the treated area. In the longer term, radiotherapy may cause some altered texture of the skin.
For some people who have had previous radiotherapy for other disease in the upper part of the body, or people with certain medical conditions or movement disorders, radiotherapy may not be suitable.
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