Radiotherapy, also referred to as radiation therapy or treatment, is the use of X-rays to destroy cancer cells that may be left after breast cancer surgery.
Does everybody with breast cancer have radiotherapy?
Not all women with breast cancer will have radiotherapy, however most women who have breast-conserving surgery will be recommended a course of radiotherapy. If you are having chemotherapy as part of your treatment, radiotherapy is likely to be started after your chemotherapy is completed
Radiotherapy is sometimes also used following a mastectomy to target any cancer cells that may remain in the chest wall.
If radiotherapy is being considered, you will be referred to a radiation oncologist.
What will happen?
Before starting your radiotherapy treatment, a radiation oncologist will meet with you to discuss your treatment. A CT scan will be taken of your chest so that the area to be targeted by the radiotherapy can be determined.
Most women receiving radiotherapy will have it administered daily (except on weekends) for 5 or 6 weeks. Each treatment takes only a few minutes, although sometimes you may have to wait for a radiotherapy machine to become available.
Rural women are often required to attend a major regional centre or city to have radiotherapy, and may need to spend 5 or 6 weeks away from home as a result. To read more about this, and to find out tips from other rural women, see our In rural areas page.
Side effects
Common side effects of radiotherapy can include:
- burns to the skin at the treatment site - you may like to talk to your radiation oncologist about how to care for your skin before your treatment begins
- changes in the skin colour; it may become darker during treatment
- fatigue (tiredness)
Other side effects can include:
- tenderness in the breast and/or chest
- swelling of the breast
- loss of appetite
"I organised to have radiotherapy every morning at 8:00am and then I'd go off to work. I got pretty tired towards the end of treatment but it didn't muck up my life too much." --Lynette
Tips
- Before starting treatment, find out if there are any special parking spots available. Sometimes parking spots are reserved, or parking fees reduced, for people having radiotherapy.
- Talk to your Breast Care Nurse or a member of the radiotherapy team about how to look after your skin during and after treatment. They will be able to recommend some mild soaps and creams or moisturisers that are suitable to treat radiotherapy burns. Your Breast Care Nurse can also help with dressings should you require them.
- Ask your Breast Care Nurse to order you a My Care Kit, which contains a soft cotton bra specially designed for women who have had breast cancer surgery.
"The best advice I received was from my aunt, who said wearing a pure cotton t-shirt under her bra reduced her skin problems." --Caryn
More Information
- The My Journey Kit Information Guide has a section on Radiotherapy.
- The Guide for women with early breast cancer in the My Journey Kit has information about radiotherapy including questions to ask your doctors, and information about skin care during and after radiotherapy.
- Join our online network if you think talking to others online and sharing experiences will help.
- Read a report on BCNA's Radiotherapy Survey 2011.
- Contact your state or territory Cancer Council on 13 11 20 to obtain their information on radiotherapy.
- The Westmead Breast Cancer Institute has a Radiotherapy brochure which you can order free of charge through their website.
