What are the long-term side effects of radiation for breast cancer?
Long-term effects of radiation therapy
- Radiation therapy causes changes to the skin and underlying tissues so the breast may feel firmer and be slightly smaller after treatment.
- Some patients experience breathlessness, a dry cough, and/or chest pain two to three months after finishing radiation therapy.
What are the long-term side effects of radiation treatment?
Radiation to the brain can also have side effects that show up later – usually from 6 months to many years after treatment ends. These delayed effects can include serious problems such as memory loss, stroke-like symptoms, and poor brain function.
Can radiation cause problems years later?
It tends to develop in the years following treatment and slowly worsens over time. Symptoms can include pain, loss of strength, decreased feeling (sensation), loss of coordination, or loss of movement or function of the muscle. The area affected will depend on the area that was in the radiation field.
What are the most common side effects of radiation therapy for breast cancer?
Common side effects during treatment may include: Mild to moderate fatigue. Skin irritation, such as itchiness, redness, peeling or blistering, similar to what you might experience with a sunburn. Breast swelling.
What can become a part of long-term side effects of breast cancer treatment?
These long-term and late side effects may include:
- Fatigue.
- Headaches.
- Pain and numbness (peripheral neuropathy)
- Dental issues.
- Lymphedema.
- Musculoskeletal symptoms.
- Bone loss and osteoporosis.
- Heart problems.
How long does breast radiation side effects last?
Most skin changes get better within a few months. Changes to the breast tissue usually go away in 6 to 12 months, but it can take longer.
What are 5 harmful effects of radiation?
Here are a few common health effects or harmful effects of radiation on the human body.
- Hair. Loss of hair fall occurs when exposure to radiation is higher than 200 rems.
- Heart and Brain. Intense exposure to radiation from 1000 to 5000 rems will affect the functioning of the heart.
- Thyroid.
- Blood System.
- Reproductive Tract.
Does radiation stay in your body forever?
The radiation stays in the body for anywhere from a few minutes to a few days. Most people receive internal radiation therapy for just a few minutes. Sometimes, internal radiation therapy can be given for more time. If so, they stay in a private room to limit other people’s exposure to radiation.
Can radiation cause breast pain years later?
Pain in the breast or chest area Although these are usually mild, they can continue for months or even years, but they usually become milder and less frequent over time. You may also have stiffness and discomfort around the shoulder and breast or chest area during and after treatment.
How long does it take to recover from radiation therapy for breast cancer?
You may start to notice side effects about 2 weeks after you start radiation therapy. They may get worse during your radiation therapy, but they’ll slowly get better over 6 to 8 weeks after your last treatment. Some side effects may take longer to go away.
Can you get pain 2 years after radiotherapy?
Summary: Nearly 50 percent of women surveyed indicate they experience pain symptoms 2 to 3 years after breast cancer treatment, with women who were younger or who received supplemental radiation therapy more likely to have pain, according to a new study.
What are the risks of breast cancer radiation?
– Overall: sHR, 1.16 (95% CI, 1.07-1.26) – History of chemotherapy: sHR, 1.23 (95% CI, 1.11-1.38) – Left-sided radiation: sHR, 1.29 (95% CI, 1.13-1.48) – Endocrine therapy: sHR, 1.23 (95% CI, 1.12-1.34)
What are the most common breast cancer radiation side effects?
Swelling in the breast
What is radiation therapy best for breast cancer?
Whole breast radiation. Radiation to the entire affected breast is called whole breast radiation.
How long does it take to recover from radiation treatment?
The general effects of radiation therapy like fatigue, nausea, and headaches resolve fairly quickly after treatment. Your body just needs time to process the radiation but can recover within a few weeks. Delayed side effects of radiation therapy, on the other hand, may require further treatment to alleviate.