The breasts may shrink or become more dense after radiation some women.
Long term side effects of radiation therapy for breast cancer.
For women who are long term smokers radiation therapy may also increase the risk of lung cancer.
Radiation therapy may cause long term changes in the breast.
Learn more about possible side effects.
Long term changes to the breast.
The skin may be more or less sensitive and feel thicker and firmer than it was before treatment.
Many people who get radiation therapy experience fatigue.
Concern over long term side effects of radiation therapy is becoming more common as survival rates improve.
If your doctor recommends radiation there is a chance you will experience both short term and long term side effects as with any treatment.
Radiation therapy and risk of a second cancer.
The most common cancers linked to radiation therapy are sarcomas cancers of the connective tissue.
Long term side effects can last beyond a year after treatment.
Long term side effects can include.
They may include a slight darkening of your skin enlarged pores on your breast more or less sensitive skin thickening of breast tissue.
Other side effects depend on the part of the body that is being treated.
In rare cases radiation therapy to the breast can cause a second cancer.
Radiation therapy has side effects because it not only kills or slows the growth of cancer cells it can also affect nearby healthy cells.
Just as there can be long term side effects of chemotherapy radiation therapy may result in side effects that may begin and linger far after treatment has been completed these can include heart problems lung problems thyroid problems secondary cancers and more but it s important.
Long term side effects occur months or years after treatment has ended.