The National Cancer Institute estimated that over 192,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009 and more than 40,000 will die from the disease. Radiation therapy continues to be a key treatment in the fight against breast cancer.
How Radiation Works
According to the National Cancer Institute, radiation therapy uses high energy x-rays and other kinds of radiation to eradicate cancer cells or prevent them from growing and dividing. Radiation therapy is a useful tool for treating breast cancer and many other forms of the disease because of it's proven ability fight off malignant cells.
Post Surgical Radiation Therapy
In cases of early stage invasive breast cancer when breast-conserving surgery (lumpectomy) is frequently performed, radiation therapy typically begins shortly after recovery. Radiation is not necessarily used to treat early stage breast cancer patients who have undergone a mastectomy. However, the Mayo Clinic states that doctors may recommend radiation therapy after mastectomy for larger breast cancers (5 cm or larger) or if its been determined that the malignancy has spread to several lymph nodes.
When Radiation Isn't Necessary
According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), breast cancer patients who may safely undergo a lumpectomy without radiation should meet certain criteria. The ACS says followup radiation may be unnecessary for a woman over age 70, especially if the patient has a tumor--2 cm or less across--that has been removed and has not spread to the lymph nodes. There may be additional factors to consider depending on the individual case.
While it may be tempting to bypass radiation in early stage breast cancer, the ACS says studies have shown that failing to undergo the treatment increases the odds of dying from the disease.
High Risk Cases
According to the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, a long term study in British Columbia found radiation treatment in high risk breast cancer cases may help prolong life. In a different study published by the same Journal, a 20-year follow-up of premenopausal patients who underwent radiation therapy in addition to a radical mastectomy and chemotherapy had a 32 percent reduction in breast cancer mortality.
Side Effects
Some side effects commonly associated with radiation therapy include fatigue and a red rash that is similar to a sunburn in the area of the breast where the radiation is beamed. Breast tissue may also appear swollen or more firm. In very rare cases, arm swelling (lymphedema) and lung or nerve damage may result from radiation treatments.
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