The use of radiation therapy can be more than halved the risk of disease recurrence after mastectomy rational. This type of treatment is usually good tolerated in women and rarely gives significant side effects. Radiation therapy for breast cancer is strictly on the testimony.

Radiation therapy - what is it?

Radiation therapy - a tumor irradiation using ionizing gamma radiation capable of destroying malignant abnormal cells. Carried out such an impact at the location of the cancer, or in places where there are metastases (regional lymph node Lymph nodes - what keeps our immune system   or in distant organs and tissues).

The mechanism of action of gamma radiation is based on the fact that gamma rays can knock out the molecules of tumor cells, electrons, resulting in the destruction of these cells.

Thus, tumor cells are more sensitive to radiation than healthy cells, which leads to the destruction of the tumor. Healthy cells also have a large reduction potential than the tumor cells, and it allows them to fully recover after the course of radiation therapy.

How effective is radiation therapy

The use of radiation therapy after radical surgical treatment of breast cancer can significantly reduce the risk of recurrence of the disease.

Suitable radiation therapy and advanced stages of the disease with metastases to distant organs and tissues. The treatment course of radiation therapy, conducted by women with inoperable tumors, can partially suppress the spread of metastasis and monitor their growth. Radiation therapy can reduce pain, reduce the risk of fractures with cancer metastases in the bone, to suppress the bleeding of the surrounding tissues to reduce the compression of the primary tumor and metastases. Five- and ten-year survival rate in patients who received radiation therapy, compared with those who did not receive this treatment, is also much higher.

Methods of radiation therapy

Radiation therapy can be conducted using the external or internal irradiation. Most often used external impact, it is usually performed on an outpatient basis, five days a week. Duration of treatment - and a half or two months. Exposure can cause skin irritation, so during the course of treatment is recommended to wear loose-fitting clothing made of natural fabrics.

Internal radiation (brachytherapy) - is a relatively new form of treatment in which the effect of the tumor is performed using a radiation source placed directly into the tumor. So the source of radiation may be small capsules or granules are placed into the tumor using a special catheter under local anesthesia. This method of treatment can significantly shorten the course of treatment (5-7 days), and almost no radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissue. In addition, the method makes it possible to adjust the degree of radiation exposure in different types of tumors: radiation Radiation and its biological effect: gently infected!   It may be carried out at low doses, at high doses and in the form of continuous exposure, in which the radiation source remains permanently in the tissues and gradually weakens.

Side effects

Radiation therapy, in most cases well tolerated but side effects of this treatment are. Thus, with irradiation breast swells and becomes dense, and the exposure of the skin causes irritation and pain (especially in the nipple area), including the wear tight clothing. But after treatment the breast becomes more elastic, supple and taut, due to changes in its scar tissue and some swelling.

After radiotherapy in place remove lymph nodes under the arm, many women have unpleasant sensations on exposed skin areas. This discomfort can be enhanced by the fact that the removal of axillary lymph nodes Axillary lymph nodes - signals about trouble in the mammary glands   often leads to stagnation of lymph edema and the appearance of hands. But over time, it all goes away.

Against the background of radiation therapy may receive such side effects as fatigue and constant fatigue. The combination of a healthy lifestyle and proper nutrition Proper nutrition - the basic precepts of healthy food   help to eliminate this side effect.

If you get radiation to the lungs (this is quite possible, since the tumor is directly over the light) in the irradiated area of ​​the lung tissue can grow the connective tissue - a small section of pulmonary fibrosis, which is a danger only if the woman is a heavy smoker (risk of lung cancer ).

Radiation may also affect the pectoral muscles and the ribs, causing pain in the area, sealing the muscles and increasing the risk of fracture of the ribs.

Nevertheless, despite the side effects, radiation therapy is an effective treatment for breast cancer.

Galina Romanenko

What are the symptoms of breast cancer? This question is of interest to many women. Symptoms of breast cancer to know, of course, necessary, but sometimes symptoms can be quite atypical. Therefore, every woman should know that the appearance of any changes in the breasts should be referred to a medical mammologu.

The most characteristic symptoms of breast cancer

Characteristic symptoms of breast cancer (breast cancer - breast cancer) is the appearance of the breast unit, discharge from the nipples, changing contours, skin condition and color of the mammary glands and nipples, as well as an increase in the axillary lymph nodes.

Node in the mammary gland during MRZH painless, has a rough surface and do not always detectable due to adhesions with surrounding tissues. But the assembly only occurs when a node forms of cancer. In diffuse or spread mammary gland may simply grow in size.

Discharge from the nipple is also very characteristic of breast cancer. Discharge can occur with pressure on the nipple and is a colorless transparent liquid. Sometimes fluid can have a yellowish or admixture of blood.

The skin over the tumor can change its color and appearance. Sometimes the redness and peeling, but more often - the skin becomes wrinkled and slightly brownish color. Wrinkling of the skin is due to the fact that the tumor grows to the skin. The skin on a small area may also swell, thicken and become similar to orange peel.

In the propagation of the tumor on the nipple milk ducts may swell, increase in size or, conversely, to get involved. Changing circuits takes place in the mammary glands: one can increase their glands, it may appear on the sites protrusion or retraction in the form of pits.

Axillary lymph nodes are increased gradually. First, it is one node, then two or three, and then a significant amount. They usually have a dense texture, slightly painful.

Uncharacteristic symptoms of breast cancer

By uncharacteristic manifestations of breast cancer include, for example, back pain in the shoulder blades. This pain is often associated with osteochondrosis, which slows down the timely diagnosis of breast cancer. A careful study of the nature of such pain a woman may notice that they are not related to the movements that are not typical for osteochondrosis. Such symptoms should always be cause for concern.

Sometimes the breast cancer manifested as mastitis in the form of redness, swelling, general disorders (malaise, temperature rise). If such a long mastitis is not treatable with antibacterial drugs, it should alert the physician and cause a complete examination of women, particularly if such a "mastitis" occurs in women after menopause.

Less breast cancer manifests as erysipelas chest. Lots of inflammation at the same time have the characteristic form of large irregular "flames", which can also be misleading. So long untreatable mug in breast cancer requires further examination.

There is also a so-called armored breast cancer Breast cancer: what every woman needs to know In which the mammary gland shrinks and becomes less mobile, above the dense skin, rough resembles shell.

In some cases, breast cancer is shown in the form of eczema and is accompanied by severe itching, redness and weeping skin and nipple appearance of sores, scabs and scales. This so-called cancer Paget it occurs less frequently and is distributed as the teat and gland depth. Paget's cancer may lead to the complete destruction and deformation of the nipple with the simultaneous formation of a node in the breast. The peculiarity of this form of cancer is that it is rather late metastasizes.

Young women during pregnancy and nursing Breastfeeding - a personal choice   breast can develop edematous-infiltrative form of breast cancer. Thus one of the mammary glands can rapidly expand in the absence of inflammation and pain. This form of breast cancer metastasizes very quickly to nearby lymph nodes, especially in the armpit.

What if there were signs of breast cancer

First of all, do not panic. You should know the symptoms of breast cancer Signs of breast cancer - unusual manifestations   it is possible to confuse with other diseases of the breast. Most often the case, but in this case the detection of any disease, breast cancer and its treatment is the prevention MRZH.

If the diagnosis of breast cancer was confirmed, do not panic - the disease is treated at any stage. Most successfully undergoing cancer treatment Cancer Treatment - difficult, but necessary   in the early stages, so it is important to overcome your fear and promptly seek medical attention.

Galina Romanenko