breast cancer radiation side effects

Breast cancer radiation side effects
Radiation therapy uses ionising radiation to kill cancer cells. Radiation injures or kills cells that are multiplying fast. Slow growing cells are less affected. Breast cancer cells multiply faster than breast normal cells. Skin cells multiply fairly fast, faster than breast tissue cells. The lining of the oesophagus has cells that multiply fast. The oesophagus lies near the artery to the breast, the internal mammary artery, where breast cancer cells can spread, so the radiotherapist aims at the internal mammary also, and may affect the oesophagus.
Local side effects: Swelling of the breast, heaviness and sensitivity to touch. Some women describe a deep ache within the breast.
Burns:
All of the radiated tissues suffer burns. The skin of the breast becomes red and swollen, just like a bad sunburn. It may even blister. When intra-operative radiotherapy becomes the norm, this side effects will be eliminated or reduced.
Bone marrow effects: neutropenia.
Radiation affects rapidly growing cells including the cells in bone marrow that make white blood cells. White blood cells are the defence against infections. The ribs have bone marrow so chest wall radiation may cause a drop in the white cell count.
Generalised effects: systemic:
Flu-like symptoms: Just like when you have a bad sunburn, you will feel unwell with a headache, tiredness, nausea. You may feel as if you have a fever.
Brain effects: Cognitive dysfuntion: Some people report feeling light headed and as if the brain is not functioning well, with difficulty in concentrating, and forgetfulness.
Indigestion:
The oesophagus takes the food from the mouth to the stomach. You may have heartburn, nausea. The gastro-intestinal (GI) tract starts at the lips and ends at the anus. Doctors divide it up into mouth, oesophagus, stomach, small intestine etc. but the body looks at it as one organ. What affects the oesophagus affects all the GI tract. A teething baby often develops a diaper rash. Radiation patients may find that not just the oesophagus is affected. So if you have diarrhoea, don't start to wonder if the radiation missed!

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Treatment of local side effects:
Wear loose clothing, do not wear a bra. Pain around the nipple may persists from lymphoscintigraphy when the surgeon was looking for sentinel nodes, and may worsen during radiation. Using simple gel sooting pads as used by breast feeding mothers may help.
Treatment of burns:
Use cool compresses, not hot or cold. This may be the sum of advice you get. Your physician has just ordered you to undergo controlled burning, just when your operation wound healed. The poor doctor is already feeling pretty uncomfortable. And what is there to offer for purposefully administered burns? They want you out of there.

The skin is tender and already under assault from the radiation, so be careful if you decide to apply lotions, oils or gels. Check with your oncologist before using anything specific. Women share experiences on the web and the following are some suggestions from women who have had to deal with this. They often express frustratration at the lack of help from their treating facility.
Aloe vera is soothing to many irritative skin condition.
Emu oil contains anti-inflammatory omega 3 oils.
Calamine lotion and caladryl are traditionally used for mild sunburn.
Diclofenac gel 3% is used for actinic keratosis by dermatologists. It contains a stronger anti-inflammatory than over-the-counter (OTC) anti-inlammatory rubs. It has been studied for cyclical pain in the breast and found useful for that condition.
If you decide to try any of these, try it on a small area first to make sure it does not aggravate the burn.

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Medications, oral.
Anal gesics: your doctor may prescribe pain meds. Simple OTC analgesis such as tylenol or motrin are useful.
Antihistamines help the itching and burning feeling. Try OTC first.
Anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen help pain and swelling. Acetominophen helps pain but is less anti-inflammatory.
Acid-reducing medication is helpful for heartburn and indigestion.

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