In 2010, more than 200,000 people will be diagnosed with breast cancer, according to estimates provided by the National Cancer Institute. Affected patients may choose radiation therapy, a form of cancer treatment that uses high-energy X-rays to kill cancer cells, to combat this form of cancer. Patients with breast cancer should discuss the potential risks of radiation therapy with a doctor before undergoing this type of treatment.
Skin and Breast Changes
Radiation therapy for breast cancer can increase a patient's risk of developing unusual skin and breast changes. After receiving radiation, a patient may notice that the skin covering the breast appears red, irritated or inflamed. The skin can become unusually dry or flaky and may itch or feel tender to the touch, warn medical experts with the California Pacific Medical Center. The treated breast tissue may also feel unusually heavy, swollen or hard. Certain patients can experience shrinking of the treated breast. These breast cancer radiation risks are typically temporary and resolve within a few months following the end of radiation therapy.
Shoulder or Arm Problems
Radiation therapy can affect the normal range-of-motion of a patient's shoulder or arm, reports Macmillian Cancer Support, a cancer charity based in England. Affected patients may find it difficult to move their shoulder normally and can experience sensations or tingling, numbness or weakness within the arm following radiation treatment to the underarm. These symptoms of nerve damage can be permanent, depending upon the severity of the nerve injury.
Heart or Lung Complications
In a study published in the July 2007 issue of the "Journal of Clinical Oncology," Dr. Candace R. Correa and colleagues found that approximately 59 percent of patients with cancer in their left breast developed heart-related stress test abnormalities after receiving radiation therapy. Such changes can occur due to heart damage caused by radiation therapy. Similarly, approximately one in 50 women who undergo breast cancer radiation develops breathing difficulties or chest pain that may be caused by treatment-induced lung damage, reports Macmillan Cancer Support. Recent radiation equipment and technology advancements have helped decrease the risk of these problems arising in treated patients, explains the American Cancer Society.
Bone Weakness
Breast cancer radiation can weaken the bone tissue of the ribs in certain patients, according to the American Cancer Society. As a result, patients may be at an increased risk of developing a rib fracture.
Radiation-induced Cancer
Approximately one in 1,000 women with breast cancer who undergo radiation therapy will develop a second form of radiation-induced cancer called sarcoma, warn medical professionals with Macmillan Cancer Support. This form of cancer develops several years after the end of radiation therapy in affected patients. Patients who develop any symptoms of cancer, including flu-like symptoms or body pain, should seek further evaluation and care from a medical professional.
References
- American Cancer Society: Breast Cancer - Radiation Therapy
- Macmillan Cancer Support: After Radiotherapy for Breast Cancer
- California Pacific Medical Center: Radiation Therapy for Breast Cancer
- National Cancer Institute: Breast Cancer
- "Journal of Clinical Oncology; " Coronary Artery Findings After Left-Sided...Radiation Treatment for Early-Stage Breast Cancer; Candace R. Correa, et. al.; July 2007
