Cancer treatments can cause damage to normal cells in your body, which can cause side effects. Everyone gets different side effects, and some people will have more problems than others.
The table below shows some of the side effects you may get with this treatment. You are unlikely to get all of those listed and you may also get some side effects that have not been listed.
Tell your doctor or nurse about any side effects that worry you. Follow the instructions below and those given to you by your doctor or nurse.
‘Common’, ‘less common’ and ‘rare’ are approximates.
If you are having your lymph nodes treated (around the collarbone and/or in the armpit), you may also have additional side effects. See link to Breast invasive cancer adjuvant nodal irradiation EBRT - patient information
Short term side effects: May occur during treatment or within a few weeks of finishing radiation therapy and usually settle within 4 weeks
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Skin reaction (common)
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Tiredness (common)
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Breast or chest wall discomfort (common)
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- Aches and/or shooting pains.
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Breast or chest wall swelling (less common)
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Pericarditis (rare)
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- Inflammation of the heart leading to chest pain or shortness of breath.
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Mid term side effects: May occur weeks to months after radiation therapy has finished
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Breast or chest wall discomfort (common)
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- Aches and/or shooting pains.
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Breast or chest wall swelling (less common)
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Lung problems (rare)
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- Scarring or inflammation of the underlying lung causing cough or shortness of breath.
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Long term side effects: May develop months to years after radiation therapy has finished and may be permanent
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Changes to breast appearance (common)
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- Change to breast size, shape and/or texture.
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Skin colour change (common)
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- In the treatment area the skin may become lighter, darker or pinker.
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Breast or chest wall discomfort (common)
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- Aches and/or shooting pains.
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Lung changes (common)
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- Scarring of the underlying lung seen on future lung imaging but not causing any symptoms.
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Permanent breast or chest wall changes (rare)
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- You may have rare permanent changes to the tissue of the breast or chest wall such as scarring, severe pain, or swelling.
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Telangiectasia (rare)
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- Development of telangiectasia (broken capillaries on the skin).
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Heart problems (rare)
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- Increased risk of heart disease.
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Rib fracture (rare)
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Developing a second cancer (very rare)
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- A different cancer in the treatment area. This is very rare.
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