Free
E-newsletter
Subscribe to Housecall
Our weekly general interest
e-newsletter keeps you up to date
on a wide variety of health topics.
close window
Mayo Clinic Housecall
Stay up to date on the latest health information.
What you get
- Free weekly e-newsletter
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- Recipes, tools and other helpful information
- We do not share your e-mail address
Risks
By Mayo Clinic staffBoth external and internal radiation therapy have potential side effects.
External radiation therapy
Common side effects include:
- Mild to moderate fatigue (fatigue tends to increase over the course of treatment)
- Skin irritation — such as itchiness, redness, peeling or blistering — similar to what you might experience with a sunburn (skin irritation tends to increase over the course of treatment)
- Breast swelling
- Changes in skin sensation
Rarely, radiation therapy may cause:
- Arm swelling (lymphedema)
- Rib tenderness
- Inflamed lung tissue
- Heart damage
- Secondary cancers, such as bone or muscle cancers (sarcomas) or lung cancer
Internal radiation therapy
Internal radiation therapy usually produces fewer skin reactions, although the treated area may be sore and tender for a few months after treatment.
References
- Breast cancer. American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/BreastCancer/DetailedGuide/index. Accessed July 21, 2010.
- Pierce LJ. Techniques and complications of breast and chest wall irradiation for early stage breast cancer. http://www.uptodate.com. Accessed July 21, 2010.
- Sabel MS, et al. Role of radiation therapy in breast conservation therapy. http://www.uptodate.com. Accessed July 21, 2010.
- Pierce LJ. Postmastectomy chest wall irradiation. http://www.uptodate.com. Accessed July 21, 2010.
- Moataz NE, et al. Radiation techniques for locally advanced breast cancer. http://www.uptodate.com. Accessed July 21, 2010.
- Understanding radiation therapy. American Society of Clinical Oncology. http://www.cancer.net/patient/All+About+Cancer/Cancer.Net+Features/Treatments%2C+Tests%2C+and+Procedures/Understanding+Radiation+Therapy. Accessed July 21, 2010.
- Radiation therapy and you: Support for people with cancer. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/coping/radiation-therapy-and-you/page1. Accessed July 25, 2010.
- Side effects of radiation therapy. American Society of Clinical Oncology. http://www.cancer.net/patient/All+About+Cancer/Cancer.Net+Features/Side+Effects/Side+Effects+of+Radiation+Therapy. Accessed July 21, 2010.
- Radiation therapy-What to expect. American Society of Clinical Oncology. http://www.cancer.net/patient/All+About+Cancer/Cancer.Net+Features/Treatments%2C+Tests%2C+and+Procedures/Radiation+Therapy%26mdash%3BWhat+to+Expect. Accessed July 21, 2010.
- Breast cancer treatment (PDQ): Health professional version. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/breast/HealthProfessional. Accessed July 23, 2010.
- Brachytherapy. American College of Radiology and Radiological Society of North America. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=brachy. Accessed July 25, 2010.
- Radiation therapy. Breast Cancer Network of Strength. http://www.networkofstrength.org/information/treatment/radiation.php. Accessed July 25, 2010.
- Moynihan TJ (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic. Rochester, Minn. Aug 1, 2010.
- Schomberg PJ (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic. Rochester, Minn. Aug 11, 2010.
- Smith BD, et al. Accelerated partial breast irradiation consensus statement from the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO). Journal of the American College of Surgeons. 2009;209:269.
- Vaidya JS, et al. Targeted intraoperative radiotherapy versus whole breast radiotherapy for breast cancer (TARGIT-A trial): an international, prospective, randomised, non-inferiority phase 3 trial. The Lancet. 2010;376:91.
Find Mayo Clinic on