What to Expect After Radiation Treatment for Breast Cancer

If you get external beam radiation therapy (EBRT), you don't need to worry about being radioactive after your treatments. It's perfectly safe to be around other people. However, if you have internal radiation or brachytherapy, you may be told to avoid certain people who could be sensitive to radiation, such as small children and pregnant women.

EBRT and brachytherapy usually don't cause serious side effects. Possible side effects are:

• Skin irritation

• Redness

• Itching

• Loss of appetite

• Fatigue (extreme tiredness)

Here's a list of longer-term, but minor, side effects.

• Darkening of your skin in the area treated

• Increased pore size in the area treated

• Red areas, called telangiectasias, caused by dilated blood vessels

Ask your doctor, nurse, or radiologist about the side effects you should watch for. Let them know if you have any problems. They may be able to give you some tips on how to ease these side effects.