Breast cancer radiation treatment

Rush to the nearest breast cancer treatment center once you get to know about it residing in your body! This treatment is given according to the type of illness you have developed. Radiation treatment consists of beams of light which prevents growth of cancer cells. It follows Breast conserving therapy which is surgical removal of the effected breast. Radiation treatment is given usually a month after this surgery. It removes affected cells in and around the breast which have been left over by surgery. At times it may be used to shrink the tumor before the surgery.

There are basic three types of radiation treatments:

1. External beam Radiation 2. Internal beam Radiation 3. Intra- operative Radiation

Out of these three the External beam Radiation treatment is commonly used. It is named so because it is imparted from an outside source to a specific area of the breast. Radiation may be given in several settings i.e. at least 5 times a week for six weeks after surgery. Internal beam Radiation is also known as Brachytherapy. This treatment is still in its developing stages. It aims at placing required radio active elements inside the effected area of the breast and constitutes placement of 10 to 20 plastic tube implants which will carry the radio active elements accurately towards the affected area. This radiation is not tested on breast cancer patients. But on trying it may prove to be advantageous as it needs less time, will be less irritable, and have lesser rashes as compared to external radiation.

Intra- operative Radiation treatment is where in a “boost” given directly to the area under treatment. This permits the operators to give high doses of radiation than usually given. And its greatest advantage is that it requires no wait between surgery and radiation treatment. And to top it all it may just prove to be the least costly of all three.

Side Effects Radiation treatment uses radio waves and radio active elements. So, it suiting all skin types is at odds. Hence, at times after Radiation treatment women may develop certain side effects. These may vary from person to person. • Resultant fatigue possibility prevails. • Possibility of reduction in white blood cells. • Breast may swell up and feel heavy. • The breast skin may seem burnt.

Look up the following tips to avoid extreme side effects. • Do not go under sun. • Wear materials that let the skin breath. • Warm water for bath to be taken, not hot. • Try and manage without a bra. • Don’t apply any lotion or powder unless recommended.

Radiation treatment is the breakthrough in breast cancer treatments. It is the most painless way to get rid of the most dreaded disease.

Also read our article about Chemotherapy for breast cancer