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Breast external beam radiation - discharge

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Radiation - breast - discharge

You're having radiation treatment for breast cancer. With radiation, your body will go through some changes. Knowing what to expect will help you be prepared for these changes.

What to Expect at Home

You may notice changes in the way your breast looks or feels (if you are getting radiation after a lumpectomy). Changes occur due to both surgery and radiation therapy. These changes include:

  • Redness, tenderness, soreness, or swelling in the area being treated. This should go away around 4 to 6 weeks after treatment is over.
  • The skin on your breast may become more sensitive.
  • Skin and breast tissue may be thicker or firmer over time. The area where the lump was removed may get harder. Many of these changes may take place over 6 to 12 months or longer.
  • The skin color of the breast and nipple may be slightly darker.
  • After therapy, your breast may feel larger or swollen or, sometimes after months or years, it may appear smaller. Many women will not have any change in size.
  • You may notice these changes within a few weeks of treatment, such as redness or swelling; however, some changes in breast size or skin texture may occur over many years.

Skin Care

During and immediately after treatment the skin may be sensitive. Take care of the treated area:

  • Wash gently with lukewarm water only. Do not scrub. Pat your skin dry.
  • Do not use heavily scented or detergent soaps.
  • Do not use lotions, ointments, makeup, perfumed powders, or other perfumed products on this area unless recommended by your health care provider.
  • Keep the area being treated out of direct sunlight and cover with sunscreen and clothing.
  • Do not scratch or rub your skin.

Tell your provider if you have any breaks, cracks, peeling, or openings in your skin. Do not put heating pads or ice bags directly on the treated area. Wear loose-fitting breathable clothing.

Wear a loose-fitting bra and consider a bra without an underwire. Ask your provider about wearing your breast prosthesis, if you have one.

Self-care

It is important to get enough sleep and stay hydrated during your treatments.

Exercise, even a few minutes a day, can help lessen fatigue and may improve your overall outcome.

You need to eat enough protein and calories to keep your weight up while you are having radiation.

Tips to make eating easier:

  • Choose foods that you like.
  • Ask your provider if liquid food supplements would be helpful for you. These can help you get enough calories. If pills are hard to swallow, try crushing them and mixing them with some ice cream or another soft food.

Watch for these signs of swelling (edema) in your arm and immediately contact your provider if:

  • You have a feeling of tightness in your arm.
  • Rings on your fingers get tighter.
  • Your arm feels weak.
  • You have pain, aching, or heaviness in your arm.
  • Your arm is red, swollen, or there are signs of infection.

Ask your provider about physical exercises you can do to keep your arm moving freely.

Some people who get breast cancer treatment can feel tired after a few days. If you feel tired:

  • Do not try to do too much in a day. You will probably not be able to do everything you are used to doing.
  • Try to get more sleep at night. Rest during the day when you can.
  • Try to do some exercise daily, such as walking, yoga, or cycling to help lessen fatigue.
  • Take a few weeks off work, or work less.
Review Date: 10/8/2024

Reviewed By

David Herold, MD, Radiation Oncologist in Jupiter, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

References

National Cancer Institute website. Radiation therapy and you: support for people with cancer. www.cancer.gov/publications/patient-education/radiation-therapy-and-you. Updated April 2021. Accessed October 16, 2024.

Zeman EM, Schreiber EC, Tepper JE. Basics of radiation therapy. In: Niederhuber JE, Armitage JO, Kastan MB, Doroshow JH, Tepper JE, eds. Abeloff's Clinical Oncology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 27.

Disclaimer

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

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Breast cancer - Animation

Of all the different types of cancers, breast cancer is one of the most talked about, and with good reason. One out of every eight women will develop breast cancer sometime in their life. That's why every woman should be thinking about how to protect herself from this disease.

Breast cancer is cancer that forms in the breast. Usually, it begins in the tubes that transport milk from the breast to the nipple. If the cancer spreads to other parts of the breast or body, it's called invasive breast cancer. Some breast cancers are more aggressive, growing more quickly than others.

Although women are 100 times more likely to develop breast cancer, men can also get the disease because they do have breast tissue. You're more likely to get breast cancer if you're over 50, you started your periods before age 12, or you have a close family member with the disease. Drinking more than a couple of glasses of alcohol a day and using hormone replacement therapy for several years also may increase your risk.

The telltale sign of breast cancer is a lump in your breast or armpit. You may also notice a change in the shape, size, or texture of your breast, or have fluid coming from your nipple when you're not breastfeeding.

If you notice any changes in your breasts, call your doctor. You'll probably need to have an imaging scan, such as a mammogram, MRI, or ultrasound. A piece of tissue may be removed from your breast, called a biopsy. With these tests, your doctor can tell whether you have breast cancer, and if so, determine whether or not it has spread.

So, how do we treat breast cancer?

That really depends on the type of cancer, and how quickly it's spreading. Your doctor may recommend that you have the cancer removed with surgery. Sometimes it's enough just to remove the lump. That's called a lumpectomy. In other cases, the doctor will need to remove the entire breast to get rid of all the cancer or prevent it from coming back. That's called a mastectomy.

Other treatments for breast cancer include chemotherapy, medicines that kill cancer cells, and radiation therapy, which uses energy to destroy cancer. Women whose cancer is fueled by the hormone estrogen may receive hormone therapy to block the effects of estrogen on their cancer.

Today's breast cancer treatments are better than ever. Many women who have breast cancer go on to live long, healthy lives. The outlook really depends on how fast the tumor is growing, and how far it has spread. That's why it's so important to report any changes in your breasts to your doctor as soon as you notice them. Women who are at an especially high risk for breast cancer because of their family history can talk to their doctor about taking medicine or even having surgery to reduce their risk.

 

Breast cancer - Animation

Of all the different types of cancers, breast cancer is one of the most talked about, and with good reason. One out of every eight women will develop breast cancer sometime in their life. That's why every woman should be thinking about how to protect herself from this disease.

Breast cancer is cancer that forms in the breast. Usually, it begins in the tubes that transport milk from the breast to the nipple. If the cancer spreads to other parts of the breast or body, it's called invasive breast cancer. Some breast cancers are more aggressive, growing more quickly than others.

Although women are 100 times more likely to develop breast cancer, men can also get the disease because they do have breast tissue. You're more likely to get breast cancer if you're over 50, you started your periods before age 12, or you have a close family member with the disease. Drinking more than a couple of glasses of alcohol a day and using hormone replacement therapy for several years also may increase your risk.

The telltale sign of breast cancer is a lump in your breast or armpit. You may also notice a change in the shape, size, or texture of your breast, or have fluid coming from your nipple when you're not breastfeeding.

If you notice any changes in your breasts, call your doctor. You'll probably need to have an imaging scan, such as a mammogram, MRI, or ultrasound. A piece of tissue may be removed from your breast, called a biopsy. With these tests, your doctor can tell whether you have breast cancer, and if so, determine whether or not it has spread.

So, how do we treat breast cancer?

That really depends on the type of cancer, and how quickly it's spreading. Your doctor may recommend that you have the cancer removed with surgery. Sometimes it's enough just to remove the lump. That's called a lumpectomy. In other cases, the doctor will need to remove the entire breast to get rid of all the cancer or prevent it from coming back. That's called a mastectomy.

Other treatments for breast cancer include chemotherapy, medicines that kill cancer cells, and radiation therapy, which uses energy to destroy cancer. Women whose cancer is fueled by the hormone estrogen may receive hormone therapy to block the effects of estrogen on their cancer.

Today's breast cancer treatments are better than ever. Many women who have breast cancer go on to live long, healthy lives. The outlook really depends on how fast the tumor is growing, and how far it has spread. That's why it's so important to report any changes in your breasts to your doctor as soon as you notice them. Women who are at an especially high risk for breast cancer because of their family history can talk to their doctor about taking medicine or even having surgery to reduce their risk.

 
 
 
 

 

 
 
 
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