Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy uses high energy x-rays to treat cancer cells.  It can shrink the cancer, relieve symptoms, and help you feel more comfortable. 

Radiotherapy is helpful for treating breast cancer that spread to one or more areas of - 

• The bone
• The skin
• Parts of the brain

You have your treatment in the hospital radiotherapy department, usually as an outpatient.  You might have one treatment a day for a few days or over a couple of weeks.  Each treatment is a ‘fraction’ and takes a few minutes. 

You might have external beam radiotherapy to areas of the bone where the breast cancer has spread.  It can help strengthen the bone and relieve pain.  You may not notice the benefit of the treatment straight away, as it can take some days for the treatment to work. 

You may have some side effects.  These side effects depend on which bones are treated, but they usually improve over time. 

Side Effects - 

Radiotherapy for secondary breast cancer can make you tired.  It can also make your skin in the treatment area read and sore.  Side effects include - 

• Tiredness & weakness
• Feeling or being sick
• Reddening or darkening of the skin

Next week we’ll highlight Radiotherapy to the Brain.