The National Cancer Institute describes breast cancer as cancer that originates from cells in the breast tissue, commonly the ducts and lobules. It can be diagnosed in men and women, though the majority of cases are in women. Treatment for breast cancer typically depends on the stage and extent of disease, and there are several different treatment modalities, including radiation therapy.
Significance
In 2010 in the United States, approximately 207,090 women and 1,970 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer; the same year, nearly 40,000 women and 400 men will die from the disease, according to the National Cancer Institute. The American Cancer Society says breast cancer is one of the main causes of cancer death in women, second only to lung cancer.
Types
Radiation therapy for breast cancer is administered in two ways, says the American Cancer Society: as external beam radiation therapy or as brachytherapy. External beam radiation therapy is the more common mode, using a machine on the outside of the body to aim radiation toward the cancerous area. Brachytherapy is also known as internal therapy, where radioactive pellets or seeds are put into the breast near the tumor.
Time Frame
The most common radiation treatment schedule is radiation sessions once a day, five days a week for six weeks, according to the American Cancer Society. A new dosing schedule that is sometimes used, called accelerated breast irradiation, consists of bigger doses of radiation given daily, which cuts the time frame down to three weeks. Brachytherapy is typically administered twice a day for five days, as an outpatient treatment.
Side Effects
Radiation therapy for breast cancer may cause side effects, but not everyone experiences all the side effects, and they usually subside after treatment has ended. Side effects, as listed by BreastCancer.org, can include fatigue, heart problems, lowered white blood cell counts that can increase your risk of infection, lung problems, chest pain and skin changes similar to a sunburn. The American Cancer Society also adds that some women find that the breast that received radiation becomes harder and smaller.
Metastatic Breast Cancer and Radiation
Metastatic breast cancer is breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. In these cases, depending on where the cancer has spread, radiation can help alleviate symptoms like pain and bleeding, and lessen pressure on nerves from tumors, says BreastCancer.org. The aim of radiation in these situations is for palliative and comfort reasons, not curative reasons.
References
- National Cancer Institute: Breast Cancer
- American Cancer Society: Breast Cancer: What are the key statistics about breast cancer?
- American Cancer Society: Breast Cancer: Radiation therapy
- BreastCancer.org: Managing Other Side Effects of Radiation
- BreastCancer.org: Radiation for Metastatic Breast Cancer
