Side Effects Of Radiation For Breast Cancer Long Term

Long term side effects occur months or years after treatment has ended.

Side effects of radiation for breast cancer long term.

The breasts may shrink or become more dense after radiation some women. However breast fibrosis can also be long term side effect of radiotherapy. You may hear your doctor refer to it as breast fibrosis or glandular atrophy or radiation fibrosis syndrome rfs. Concern over long term side effects of radiation therapy is becoming more common as survival rates improve.

Nausea is rare with radiation therapy to the breast. Rare short term side effects nausea and hair loss. However you may have some long term side effects. Once breast cancer treatment ends most side effects go away.

It can be hard to plan for or cope with side effects since they vary from person to person. They may include a slight darkening of your skin enlarged pores on your breast more or less sensitive skin thickening of breast tissue. However you may lose some hair under your arm or on the breast or chest area getting radiation this may be a concern for some men with breast cancer. 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.

You won t lose the hair on your head. New side effects may occur months or even years after treatment ends. Long term side effects can include. Long term side effects can last beyond a year after treatment.