Radiation Therapy to the Breast
This handout is for women receiving four to six weeks of radiation to the breast. It will describe how your treatments are given. It will also describe how to take care of yourself.
Many persons getting radiation are concerned about side effects. Common side effects from radiation to the breast include skin irritation and fatigue. Some women have tenderness and swelling in the nipple and breast. Side effects can begin roughly two to four weeks after the start of treatment. They can last for two to four weeks after the treatments end. Some side effects may occur at different times. Not everyone has side effects.
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Positioning for Your Treatment
Each day, right before your treatment, you will be asked to get into position on a treatment table. The radiation therapists will help you get into the correct position. Some patients are put into “molds”. These molds are made during the treatment planning period.
Tiny dots or marks may also have been put on your skin. These marks relate to your treatment field. They look like tiny freckles and will not be easy to see. Oil based skin markers or a dye may be used to make these marks.
If these marks fade, they will be remarked. After your radiation therapy is finished, you can allow the marks to fade. You can also gently remove them using soap and water or baby oil. These marks may rub off on your clothes. If this happens, spray the stains with hair spray or Spray'N'Wash® before you wash your clothes.
Radiation Skin Reaction
Most radiation goes through the skin into body tissues. Even so, the skin in treatment sites can become reddened and irritated. It can also become dry and itchy. Sometimes, the skin will peel and become moist. This happens most often in skin folds and curves. The radiation therapists will tell you which sites to watch.
Watch your skin closely and report any changes you notice. Use skin care products as directed. As your skin reaction develops, we will watch it closely. We may tell you to change the way you care for your skin. Some skin reactions can be painful. TylenolÒ or ibuprofen can be used for pain. If you need something stronger, let us know.
If you have questions or concerns after your treatments have finished, call the Radiation Oncology Clinic (8am to 5pm) at (608) 263-8500. Ask to speak to a nurse. If the clinic is closed, your call will be transferred to the answering service. Give the operator your name and phone number with the area code. The doctor will call you back..
Skin Care during Treatment
In order to protect your skin during treatment, please follow the guidelines listed below. You will need to follow these guidelines during your treatment and afterwards, until your skin has fully healed.
- Bathe or shower using lukewarm water. If you need soap, use one that is meant for dry or sensitive skin. Rinse skin well and gently pat dry. Do not rub the skin in your treatment areas.
- AVOID heat – heating pads, very hot water in the bathtub or shower, and hot water bottles.
- AVOID cold. Do not allow the skin to become chilled from exposure to ice or very cold water or air.
- AVOID sunlight or sunlamps on the skin in the treatment site. When outside, keep the area covered with clothing. If clothing does not completely cover the area, use a sunscreen with a SPF of 20 or higher.
- AVOID rubbing or friction on the skin exposed to treatment. Do not rub or scrub the treated area. Wear comfortable, loose, cotton-based clothing that will allow good airflow. Avoid clothing made of nylon or synthetics because they hold moisture next to the skin. Clothes that bind can irritate the treated skin.
- AVOID the use of tape on the skin in the treated area.
- In most cases, nothing should be applied to treated skin unless approved by your doctor or nurse. This includes bath oils, perfumes, talcum powders, and lotions. If a skin reaction is anticipated, we will advise you to use a skin moisturizer. Use it each day as instructed.
Remember: Your skin needs to be clean and dry before each treatment. Lotions and creams should be applied 2-4 times per day to help your skin feel better. You should not apply lotions or creams in the 1-2 hour period before your treatment. If your treatment is later in the day, you may apply a skin care product before your treatment if it will be fully absorbed by the time your treatment is given.
Skin Care after Treatment
1. Although rare, late side effects may occur. These late effects may occur months to years after the end of treatment. Treated skin may continue to be dry. It may also darken in color, or become firm and tough. It may help to apply skin moisturizer or Vitamin E oil.
2. Skin in treatment areas may always be extra sensitive to sunlight. When outdoors, use a sunscreen with SPF 20 or higher on treated skin exposed to the sun. This is because the skin in treatment fields is a higher risk for a certain type of skin cancer.
Can I Wear a Bra?
Wearing a bra over treated skin can increase a skin reaction. It can also irritate the skin under your breast if a skin fold is present. Wear a bra only if necessary for support. Soft cotton bras should be chosen whenever possible. Soft bras made of synthetic material may also be okay. Some women wear soft cotton t-shirts.
Breast Tenderness
Sometimes the treated breast becomes swollen and tender during the course of treatment. You may feel sharp twinges of pain once in a while. The nipple may become swollen or tender. These side effects lessen when treatments finish. They can last up to 6 months.
To help relieve tenderness: 1) Take two tablets of acetaminophen (Tylenol®) or ibuprofen every four hours as needed. 2) Lie down and rest throughout the day with a cool (not icy cold) compresses over the breast. The radiation therapy nurse may have more suggestions for this symptom.
Indigestion
A few women whose treatment area includes the breastbone have indigestion (heartburn). Nausea is rare. If you have either of these symptoms, try drinking small amounts of clear, non-carbonated fluids. Some patients find 1-2 tablespoons of a liquid antacid soothing. Check with your doctor before using a liquid antacid. If after a few days you still have these symptoms, ask your doctor for other medicine. If you have problems swallowing, your nurse can advise you on a soft food, high protein diet.
Feeling Tired
Feeling tired (fatigue) during radiation is a common side effect. The severity of fatigue varies from person to person. Fatigue does not mean that your tumor is getting worse. Some people feel no fatigue and are able to keep up with their normal routines. Others feel the need to take a daily nap. Still others change their routines, working only part time, for example. Some people don’t do anything that requires a large amount of energy. Fatigue can begin right away, or it can develop after 1-2 weeks of treatment. It can go on for several weeks to months after treatment has ended. Rarely, it can last for up to a year.
Low blood counts may also cause you to feel tired. Your bone marrow makes blood cells. If a lot of bone is in your radiation field, your production of blood cells may be slowed down for a time. This is a short term side effect. Your doctor may order a blood test from time to time to check your blood cell counts.
Here are a few tips that may help with feeling tired.
1. Listen to your body and rest when you need to. A short nap during the day or sleeping a little longer during the night may help.
2. Make time for activities you enjoy. Take a walk in the fresh air, visit with a friend, or pursue a hobby during the times you feel most energetic. Do things that help you feel good.
3. Stop smoking and do not drink alcohol to excess. Do something healthy for yourself. If you need help with this, talk with your doctor or nurse. There are ways we can help.
4. If you work, you may want to keep working. Some people are able to maintain a full-time job. Others find it helpful to work fewer hours. Many employers understand and will agree to part-time work. We can schedule your treatment times to fit in with your work schedule.
5. Plan regular active exercise – daily walks, riding an exercise bike, or any mild exercise. Go at your own pace. Never exercise to the point of fatigue. A good rule of thumb is that you should feel less tired after the exercise than you did before the exercise.
6. Take advantage of emotional outlets. Pent up emotions can add to fatigue. Talk about your feelings with family or friends. Having a good cry or laugh can be helpful.
7. Eat well. Keep foods around that need little effort to prepare – cheese, yogurt or slices of meat. When you feel well, prepare and freeze meals to eat later when you are tired. Extra calories and protein are needed to maintain energy while getting treatments. They also help repair normal skin cells damaged by your treatment. Speak with a clinic nurse if you have problems eating.
8. Drink lots of fluid – 8 to 12 glasses per day. The water will help to flush some of the by-products of your cancer fighting treatment out of your body.
9. If you need help with your basic daily needs, ask your nurse or the social worker to help you contact your local resources. You may be able to receive help with meals, housekeeping, personal care, transportation, support groups, and respite care.
10. Accept offers of help from family and friends. If friends ask if they can help, accept it! If they ask if you “need anything,” they may need specific ideas to be helpful. Often, people want to help, but don’t know what things you need the most help doing. Things like mowing the lawn, making a dinner, or watching the kids after school for an hour or two can help both you and your friends to feel good.
11. Visits from family and friends can be nice, but also tiring. You do not need to be the perfect host or hostess. Let your family and friends fix dinner, and get the drinks and snacks for you!
12. Some people may have pain from cancer or other causes. Pain can be very tiring. Your doctor and nurse can work with you to achieve good pain control. Let them know about any discomfort you have during treatment.
Arm Exercises
Sometimes after treatment, women find they have stiffness in their shoulder. They may also have swelling in the arm or hand on the treated side. There is more than one reason why these side effects may occur. Sometimes lymph nodes from the armpit area are tested or removed during surgery. This can lead to a blockage of the normal flow of lymph fluid from the arm to the body. When this happens, swelling of the arm can occur (lymphedema). After radiation, changes to the tissues in the armpit can also cause lymphedema. These same tissue changes can also cause stiffness of the shoulder muscles. These side effects can occur weeks to months after treatment is over.
To help ease or prevent these problems, we suggest you do shoulder exercises on a regular basis. You should take special care to protect your hand and arm. The exercises listed on the next few pages can be used along with those you learned after surgery. If you have questions, talk with your doctor or nurse.
Shoulder Check
Once a day, stand undressed in front of a mirror. Place both hands beneath your collarbones and lift your elbows up towards your shoulders. Watch closely to see that your elbows move evenly to shoulder height and that both shoulders are level. This helps to maintain a normal range of motion. If you see that your affected shoulder shrugs (or moves towards the ear), contact your doctor.
Axillary Stretch
1. Sit in a straight-back chair with your feet flat on the floor. Let your hands hang loosely at your sides.
2. Grasp your hands in front of you.
3. Lift your arms up and overhead. Slide your hands to the back of your neck. Slowly twist the upper part of your body toward the side that has not had surgery. This should stretch the armpit area on the side where you received treatment.
Shoulder Rotation and Stretch
1. Sit in a straight-back chair with your feet flat on the floor. Let your hands hang loosely at your sides.
2. Bring both your arms straight out to the side at shoulder height. Keep your arms at shoulder height. Pull backwards as if you were doing the “backstroke” with the arm on the treated side. Do the stroking sequence 5 times. Return to the starting position and relax.
Shoulder Internal Rotation
1. Sit in a straight backed chair and move forward to the edge of the seat so that your back does not touch the chair. Your feet should be flat on the floor.
2. Reach behind your back with the arm on the treated side and touch the bottom tip of the opposite shoulder blade. Try to hold for 5 seconds. Relax and return to the starting position.
Stretch
1. Stand comfortably with your feet about six inches apart.
2. Put your arms in front of your body and hold one end of a towel in each hand. Bring your arms over your head and stretch towards the upper back. Do not arch your back, and do not force the movement if difficult. Try to hold for 5 seconds. Relax and return to your starting position.
3. Stand as in (1). Start with your hand grasping the towel behind your back and lift upward as far as you are able. Be sure to stand straight. Hold for 5 seconds. Return to your starting position.
Stretch for the Back and Shoulder Muscles
1. Sit in a straight-back chair with your feet flat on the floor. Let your hands hang loosely at your sides.
2. Place your right hand on your right shoulder and your left hand on your left shoulder (palms down). Try to touch your elbows in front of your body while keeping your hands in position. Hold for 5 seconds.
Help Prevent Infection
It is important to prevent infection in the arm on the side of your treatment. Below are some simple rules to prevent infection.
· Stop smoking.
· Avoid burns while cooking.
· Avoid sunburns.
· Have all injections, vaccinations, blood samples, and blood pressure tests done on the other arm.
· Use an electric razor to reduce the risk of nicks or scratches.
· Carry heavy packages or handbags in the other arm.
· Avoid heavy lifting.
· Wash cuts promptly. Treat them with antibacterial medicine. Cover with a sterile dressing. Check often for redness, soreness, or other signs of infection.
· Never cut cuticles; use hand cream or lotion.
· Wear watches or jewelry loosely, if at all, on treated arm.
· Wear gloves to protect your hands when gardening. Use gloves when using strong detergents or chemicals.
· Do not keep your hands in water so long that they become wrinkled.
· Use a thimble when sewing.
· Avoid harsh chemicals or abrasive compounds.
· Use insect repellent to avoid bites and stings.
· Avoid elastic cuffs on blouses and nightgowns.
What to do if you have a swollen arm
1. If the swelling occurs all of a sudden or if the arm is red, hot, or painful, call your doctor at once. You may have an infection that needs treatment.
2. If the swelling develops slowly and the arm is not red, hot, or painful, make an appointment with your doctor to discuss treatment. In the meantime, keep the arm raised above the level of your heart as much as possible. Keep doing the exercises described in this handout. Moving your muscles may help some of the lymph fluid to get back into your circulation.
Other Concerns
When you have cancer you may have concerns other than the need to manage the side effects of treatment. Often, it affects many other aspects of your life. Patients feel its impact on their emotions, marriage, family, jobs, finances, thoughts, and feelings about the future. The nurses and social workers can help you cope with these issues. They can suggest support services and resources. Feel free to speak with them at any time.
Cancer Resource Services
Cancer Connect is a service of the UW Comprehensive Cancer Center.. The staff can answer your questions about local treatments available. Cancer connect also has knowledge of community resources and support services. The phone number is (608) 262-5223.
Cancer Information Service is a telephone service of the National Cancer Institute. It has information about local cancer care as well as cancer care around the country. The toll-free number is 1-800-4-CANCER or 1-800-422-6237.
The information provided should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
Last Updated: 08/18/2011
Copyright © 08/18/2011 University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority. All rights reserved. Produced by the Department of Nursing. HF#4502
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