A lumpectomy is the removal of a cancerous tumor (lump) in the breast tissue along with some surrounding tissue, according to BreastCancer.org. This breast-conserving surgery is effective in removing certain breast cancers, but sometimes other preventive measures are used to help lessen the likelihood of recurring tumors in the breast or surrounding areas. Radiation is often the method of choice for this kind of prevention.
What Is Radiation Therapy?
Radiation therapy, or radiotherapy, is a type of treatment that uses energy released in particles or waves onto specific areas of the body. In cancer treatment, radiotherapy is used to kill cancerous cells or reduce the size of tumors, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Radiotherapy is spread out over time to protect normal cells from as much exposure as possible. Generally people receive treatments five days a week for five to seven weeks. During treatments, the parts of the body not being treated will be shielded from the radiation.
Radiation After Lumpectomy
Radiation after a lumpectomy is common, according to BreastCancer.org. Most patients receive five to seven weeks of radiation therapy following a lumpectomy. Any remaining cancerous cells in the breast tissue that may have been left behind during the surgery are destroyed by the radiation. Recurrence of cancer is cut down considerably by post-lumpectomy radiation, but it is important to know that recurrences can still happen. According to BreastCancer.org, studies published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2002 revealed a 9 percent recurrence in breast cancer in one study and a 14 percent recurrence in another. In these cases a mastectomy was performed and was successful in ridding the women of the disease.
Side Effects
In addition to the life-saving benefits of radiation therapy, the treatment is also free of immediate side effects, according to RadiologyInfo.org. Side effects of radiation treatment typically occur gradually throughout treatment and most patients do not need medicine of any kind to cope with them. Patients will often become mildly fatigued throughout their treatment or may experience brief shooting pains or dull aches in the treated area.
The most common reactions to radiation that may require additional medical attention are skin irritations. These reactions may range from slight reddening of the skin to severe itching and even sunburn-like blistering. A common misconception is that radiation will cause vomiting and hair loss on the head. Nausea can trigger vomiting and is sometimes present during the hours following a treatment, but is not a certain effect. Hair loss only happens in the area of treatment, so you will not lose the hair on your head following breast radiation.
Tags: according BreastCancer, breast tissue, cancerous cells, five seven, five seven weeks
