Radiation therapy for breast cancer removes cancer cells in tumours. People who have breast cancer surgery continously need radiation therapy to remove any cancer cells that remain after the surgery. Radiation therapy for breast cancer can have both quick and long-term negative effects. If you are looking for the best breast cancer treatment in Dubai, patientexperts.co is just a call away. Get the best treatment through us today!
What is radiation therapy for breast cancer?
Radiation therapy for breast cancer employs high-energy X-rays to kill or damage malignant cells in your breast. Breast surgeons/surgical oncologists (cancer experts) frequently do breast cancer surgery to remove tumours. The remaining malignant cells are then eliminated using radiation therapy, which is overseen by radiation oncologists. People with metastatic breast cancer may receive this treatment to alleviate breast cancer symptoms or symptoms from other parts of their bodies.
Types of radiation therapy for breast cancer
There are several ways to get radiation therapy. Your radiation oncologist will determine the optimum method based on the cancer’s location, type, and other criteria.
There are several types of radiation therapy for breast cancer, including:
- External beam radiation therapy (EBRT): This one uses a linear accelerator to deliver high-energy radiation beams to your breast. Most patients receive this treatment five days a week for one to six weeks. EBRT may incorporate IMRT or SBRT.
- Brachytherapy: Radiation oncologist inserts a tiny radioactive seed into the tumour location using a catheter. The seed emits radiation for a few minutes before your provider removes it. You will receive two treatments per day for five days.
- Intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT): Your surgeon administers this treatment in the operating room after removing the tumour in your breast but before closing the surgical wound. They administer a large dosage of radiation to the tumour area of the exposed breast tissue.
Procedure Details
What will happen at my first radiation therapy appointment for breast cancer?
Your initial appointment is a planning session when your radiation oncology team may explain procedures and answer your questions. The team will do:
Discuss your treatment regimen, including how frequently you will receive radiation and what to expect during therapy. Radiation therapy sessions, for example, are usually 30 to 45 minutes long. Your therapy is administered in two-to-three-minute increments throughout a 15-minute timeframe.
Explain the procedure, including how radiation is administered, where the team will be throughout treatment, and anything you are unable to do during treatment, such as walk about.
Show strategies for protecting your heart and lungs from radiation exposure. For example, they may demonstrate how to perform deep inspiratory breath holds. This entails taking and holding a deep breath at certain intervals throughout treatment. This approach protects your heart and lungs during treatment.
Recommend things to do before treatment to make you as comfortable as possible. For example, they may advise you to wear a loose-fitting blouse to your treatments that won’t rub on your breast muscle.
Discuss potential adverse effects and how to control them. They may recommend palliative care, which helps patients deal with disease symptoms and treatment adverse effects.
Knowing what to expect might help you organise and arrange your personal activities, such as work and other commitments.
What are treatment-related side effects?
Radiation therapy rarely causes acute side effects, although you may experience short-term and long-term reactions.
Short-term side effects could include:
Fatigue: Most persons experience mild fatigue that begins during therapy and resolves a few weeks later.
Skin irritation: Your skin may feel dry and flaky. Your skin may peel. Some persons get moist desquamation, a skin disorder that most commonly occurs in the fold under the breast or between the breast and the arm. Your skin may blister and peel.
Changes in skin colour: If you have fair skin, your skin may seem sunburnt. If you have dark skin, you may find that it looks darker than usual.
Breast pain: Some women have dull, shooting pains in their breasts. The pain usually comes and goes. Your nipples and breasts may feel painful.
Conclusion
Radiation therapy is a popular and successful treatment for breast cancer, both early and advanced. It may also help relieve the symptoms of breast cancer. Studies demonstrate that this treatment prevents breast cancer from recurring. The treatment may result in both short- and long-term negative effects. If you have breast cancer, patientexperts.co is here to help you connect with the best cancer doctor in Dubai. Contact us today to know more.