Radiation therapy for breast cancer

Such a terrible disease as a cancerous lesion of the breast can be overcome only by complex measures, which include surgical intervention, medical treatment, chemotherapy, radiological irradiation, nutrition and other activities. Radiation therapy for breast cancer is used and as a monotherapy, it is not bad combined with surgical intervention, it is the fixing result after the chemotherapy. Modern devices of radiological irradiation are deprived of many negative factors that were manifested during the conduct of such an event for another 10 to 15 years. Modern radiation therapy makes it possible to influence malignant conglomerates of the neoplasm rather locally, without affecting healthy cells.

[1], [2], [3], [4], [5], [6], [7], [8], [9]

Indications for Radiation Therapy for Breast Cancer

Before deciding on the question, in which cases the oncologist prescribes laser therapy, one should first raise the question of the varieties of this procedure, which depends on the purpose of its application:

• Radical radiological irradiation, which allows complete resorption of malignant neoplasm.
• Palliative radiological exposure is prescribed for diagnosing significant tumor volumes and widespread metastasis. In this case, to achieve complete relief of the problem does not work, but to slow down the spread of metastases and the growth of education is quite possible. This procedure allows prolonging the life of the cancer patient, reducing pain symptoms, making life easier for him.
• Symptomatic irradiation is prescribed by a doctor-oncologist in case of an especially severe clinical picture of the disease. After the passage of the rays in such a patient, the intensity, and the severity of the pain, are reduced, which is already difficult to eliminate even with narcotic analgesic drugs.

Indications for radiation therapy in breast cancer, on the basis of which the necessary purpose is made:

• More than four affected lymph nodes.
• Numerous foci of infestations in the mammary glands;
• The edematous form of a cancerous growth that affects the mammary gland of a woman and / or lymph nodes with the formation of conglomerate structures. That is, when diagnosing a locally distributed process that is not burdened by the products of tumor disintegration.
• Metastatic bone damage, with pain symptoms.
• Radical resection of the breast.
• Organ-saving surgical intervention.
• Elimination of complications of the progressing cancerous process.
• Preoperative radiotherapy, which increases the sensitivity of cancer cells.
• Postoperative radiotherapy, which allows to remove the cells left after surgery.
  • High probability of recurrence.
  • The third stage of cancerous growth.
  • Numerous metastases in the axillary - subclavian zone.

Intraoperative radiotherapy for breast cancer

Until recently, radiological irradiation of the operated zone was carried out after the operation was completed. The rays hit and destroyed the cells, which for one reason or another could not be excised.

But science does not stand still. New methods of treatment and modern, more sophisticated equipment are being developed and implemented. Innovative intraoperative radiation therapy for breast cancer, which appeared on the arsenal of oncologists not so long ago, has already proved itself in the treatment of many oncological diseases.

The essence of this technique is that it allows starting the process of irradiation of cancer cells at the stage of the operative intervention. Radioactive rays immediately after excision of tumor formation are directed to a specific site. This helps to minimize the likelihood of a residual tumor. That is, the site of the tumor is cleared, which may not have been excised. After all, studies show that in nine cases out of ten, recurrent carcinoma of the breast appears at the site where the tumor was already excised. It is for this reason that oncologists practice immediate targeted irradiation with high doses of the area falling into the risk zone.

The high efficiency and attractiveness of the technique in question is also in the volume that healthy cells of the body are not affected.

As the monitoring of intraoperative radiation therapy (IOLT), which captures the results of the last five years, shows that the percentage of relapses that occur is fairly low compared to classical radiological therapy, and is less than 2%.

Especially relevant is the method of cancer cells in question, still in the process of therapy for elderly patients, but if it is a low-aggressive type of cancerous tumors. In a number of cases, complete replacement by intraoperative radiotherapy of postoperative radiological irradiation is allowed. If the postoperative radiation therapy is indispensable, the use of the intraoperative technique makes it possible to reduce the long-term postoperative administration for a couple of weeks.

To date, due to the innovative technology, the optimal level of single doses of electronic radiation has not been established. Oncologists, basing on their experience and clinical picture of the disease, prescribe a dosage falling in the range from 8 to 40 Gy.

As observations have shown, patients undergoing the procedure of the IOLT, transfer the session normally, without any complications.

Immediately after intraoperative radiotherapy, physicians noted increased swelling and reddening of the tissues irradiated and adjacent to the irradiated region. There is one more peculiarity: during the first two or three days there was an exudate exudate (exudative reaction) that was prominent in the tissue and / or body cavity. In the future, the recovery period is relatively normal.

Some patients on the seventh - ninth day give an increase in local body temperature. Locally, in the irradiation zone, there is edema and the formation of a hematoma, which subsequently develops into an infiltrate with subsequent suppuration.

Small betatrons (devices emitting necessary beams) placed directly in the operating room allow the patient to perform laser treatment on the operating table without loosing control over the patient's condition. Monitoring is performed remotely using a monitor.

Side effects of radiation therapy for breast cancer

Often, afraid of collateral complications, patients refuse treatment with rays. Especially the percentage of failures is great in elderly patients. This is mainly due to psychological fear and ignorance. In order to dispel part of the conjecture, it is necessary to specify in detail what side effects of radiation therapy in breast cancer can and do occur most often.

It is necessary immediately to reassure patients that such symptoms as hair loss and persistent nausea during the procedure under consideration are not observed due to the fact that the applied dose of ionizing radiation is low enough, so it does not lead to the development of radiation sickness.

But nevertheless, side effects exist and are manifested with different frequency and intensity in different patients. Usually observed:

• Increased fatigue, which becomes more pronounced by the end of the course and gradually independently passes after its completion. The recovery period is long and takes from one to two months.
• Occasionally, pain can occur in the area of the affected breast. They can be both stupid, noisy, and sharp (these are less common). Usually this symptom also does not require medical treatment.
• Quite often, radiation dermatitis can develop on the skin of the irradiated patient. After three to four weeks from the start of therapy, local skin irritation can develop on the skin, accompanied by:
  • Itching.
  • Edema of the subcutaneous tissue.
  • Hyperemia.
  • Increased dryness of the skin.
• In some patients, radiation dermatitis can progress "according to the scenario" of a sunburn.
  • Wet desquamation can develop in the form of blisters filled with liquid.
  • Perhaps exfoliation of the epidermis. The anatomical folds of the body predominate in such lesions. For example, the area of the axillary basins and under the breast. Predominantly, this pathological symptomatology gradually goes away for five to seven weeks after the end of irradiation. To as long as possible to resist the appearance of such a pathology, it is necessary to monitor the skin and try to keep its immune status high. It is necessary to take care of clothes. Throughout the treatment, it should be comfortable, do not crush or rub. It is advisable if it will be made of natural materials in order not to provoke in parallel an allergic reaction and so weakened by the disease of the body. For the duration of therapy, it is also worth noting the use of alcohol agents for rubbing the skin, as it dries it. Creams are not welcome. Against the background of excessive sweating in many patients, creams can cause skin maceration (separation of plant or animal cells in tissues).
• Muscle tenderness can be observed.
• Decrease in blood counts. Develops leukopenia and thrombocytopenia.
• It is quite rare, but there may be a cough and other manifestations of the inflammatory process that occurs in the area of the respiratory organs.
• Dyspeptic intestinal disorders.
• Temporal darkening of the epidermis in the chest area from the side of irradiation.

What side effects can radiation therapy bring!

Consequences of radiation therapy for breast cancer

The overwhelming majority of oncological clinic patients lend themselves to radiological irradiation of cancer cells, in order to suppress their ability to reproduce and destroy. Over the past ten to fifteen years, medical radiological equipment has undergone a number of significant changes and improvements. This procedure has become much safer, but, despite this, this technique can not be called absolutely safe for the patient's body. However, the effect it brings on localization, reduction of volumes and destruction of cancerous tumors outweighs the negativity of its manifestations.

The consequences of radiotherapy for breast cancer directly depend on the condition of the patient's body, the accompanying diseases, the level of individual sensitivity of tissues, as well as the depth of penetration of radiological rays. In most cases, the effects of irradiation begin to appear in patients who have been through a prolonged course of treatment.

The main consequences, for example, moderate puffiness and minor pain symptoms, can bring some discomfort for six to twelve months after the procedure. These pains are usually caused by the unfolding of post-ray myositis (damage to muscle tissue under the influence of various factors, which is inflammatory, traumatic or toxic).

[10], [11], [12], [13], [14]

Complications of radiation therapy for breast cancer

Usually complications of radiotherapy for breast cancer do not require the connection of any therapeutic measures or maintenance treatment. But to ignore this fact does not follow. On the emerging pathological symptoms should be informed to his attending physician - an oncologist or an observant mammologist, who, this fact, should take control and, if necessary, take adequate measures to stop the problem.

One of the complications, which often requires medical intervention, is lymphodema (swelling of the muscular structures of the hand from the affected breast). Possible development of radiation pneumonia, the catalyst of which was the impact of X-rays on the tissue of the chest. This disease can begin to progress after three to nine months after receiving the therapeutic dosage.

Another complication of radiological therapy is the loss of muscle strength of the upper limb from the affected chest (which goes on a chronic course). For the resuscitation of this process, it is necessary to involve the knowledge and assistance of specialists.

Radiation ulcers can appear on the cutaneous surface of the patient, which require surgical intervention. A distant complication of radiation therapy can be damage to the myocardium and respiratory organs.

But most of the complications, yet does not require any medical help. Reduce the impact of ionizing radiation, and, consequently, the severity of complications is possible only by using more innovative equipment, careful selection of radiation dose and correctly localize the irradiation area.

[15], [16], [17]

Radiation therapy for breast cancer after chemotherapy

Quite often, in order to obtain a more effective result, the patient receives a complex treatment, which can consist of chemotherapy, the result of which secures radiological irradiation. Radiation therapy for breast cancer after chemotherapy is a fairly common tandem, showing the most positive result compared to using them alone as a monotherapy.

In this case, chemotherapy for breast cancer is used to kill cancer conglomerates, while radiological ionizing radiation, having a local effect on a specific neoplasm and lymphatic flow, allows the destruction of residual "living" cancer cells that managed to "avoid" destruction by pharmacological drugs, which conducted chemotherapy.

Especially often the combination of chemotherapy with ionizing radiation is prescribed in a situation where for some reason it is inadmissible to use more radical methods. For example, in the case of inoperable or infiltrated edematous cancer. Another option is the application - when the patient himself refuses the operation. Then this tandem is appointed to reduce the pain syndrome and prolong the life of the patient.

Reviews about radiation therapy for breast cancer

Breast cancer is a pathological disease characterized by the development of malignant conglomerates in one or both mammary glands. This is probably one of the most common diseases, the frequency of diagnosis of which has increased significantly over the past few years. For this reason, women who are interested in this issue are becoming more and more. And he is justified by the fact that either the woman herself has encountered this pathology, or is a close observer of the trouble that has occurred with her relative, friend or acquaintance. But, in any case, knowledge about the problem, the mechanism of its development and the forecast for the future can bring the patient a certain emotional stability, which is important for a patient who has just to go through this difficult path. After all, the woman is more afraid of the unknown, which affects her psyche.

Today, on the Internet, you can find many forums providing feedback on radiation therapy for breast cancer, where former patients and their relatives share their experiences and experience of the procedure. Here you can find numerous tips that can help a woman in a similar situation.

Most respondents agree that it is almost impossible to dispense with radiotherapy in stopping the problem of breast cancer. But the consequences and complications that have to be overcome by such a patient are quite different. One afterwards, for a long time, one has to fight with shortness of breath, which is manifested as a symptom of radiation pneumonia, someone suffers from radiation dermatitis and with this has to struggle for a long time, and some patients underwent the rehabilitation process without feeling any discomfort.

But practically everyone is united in the opinion that radiation therapy is a ticket to a future life. Some find strength in themselves and live happily in their family for a long time. Another, though for a short while, this life is prolonged, and how it will be of high quality, already depends on the person himself.

Therefore, a woman preparing to undergo a course of laser therapy, it will be very useful to read the statements and advice of former patients, to communicate with them. After all, most of the fears and doubts are due to ignorance of the subject and what awaits in the future. If the patient imagines what awaits her, what complications and consequences she can expect and how to "soften" or completely prevent their manifestation, then the mood with which she will go to irradiation will be quite different. And as doctors say, that a significant part of the effectiveness of the result of treatment depends on the person and his mood for recovery.

Cancer - this terrible diagnosis sounds like a sentence to pain and death. This is how the disease is perceived by many people. And they can argue reasonably with people (in this case, women) who received a second chance at life. And this chance for them was radiotherapy for breast cancer. After all, no one will argue that many of them have not been alive for a long time, do not go through this procedure. Yes - it hurts, yes - scary. But this is a chance to live and it is necessary to take advantage of them, and what your life, given by oncologists, will be after the treatment, in many respects will depend on the person himself, moral and physical help of his relatives and friends. Be healthy! Live happily ever after, appreciating every day!