Breast Cancer Treatment: Radiation Therapy and the Side Effect of Radiation Dermatitis
If you or someone you know has been recently diagnosed with breast cancer, you may be considering radiation therapy as a form of treatment. Radiation therapy is a common treatment for breast cancer, but it can come with a range of side effects, including one of the most common: radiation dermatitis.
What is Radiation Therapy?
Radiation therapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses high-energy X-rays to kill cancer cells. It is used to treat breast cancer by targeting the area of the body where the cancer cells are located. The radiation beams are carefully focused to minimize damage to healthy tissue.
What is Radiation Dermatitis?
Radiation dermatitis is a common side effect of radiation therapy. It is a skin condition caused by damage to the skin caused by radiation. Symptoms of radiation dermatitis include:
- redness
- dryness
- itching
- swelling
- pain
- In some cases, radiation dermatitis can also cause blistering and skin ulcers.
How Can I Manage Radiation Dermatitis?
Although radiation dermatitis is a common side effect of radiation therapy, there are ways to manage it. It is important to talk to your doctor about any side effects you experience during radiation therapy, as they can help you manage them.
Some ways to manage radiation dermatitis include:
- Applying a moisturizing skin oil like Kwench’d Skin to the affected and surrounding areas to help
- Taking short, lukewarm showers
- Wearing loose-fitting clothing
- Avoiding direct sunlight
- Avoiding hot and spicy foods
- Taking over-the-counter medications for itching or pain
When Should I Seek Medical Help?
If your radiation dermatitis is severe or does not improve with home treatments, it is important to seek medical help. Your doctor may prescribe stronger medications or recommend other treatments to help manage your symptoms.
Summary
• Radiation therapy is a common treatment for breast cancer.
• Radiation dermatitis is a common side effect of radiation therapy.
• Symptoms of radiation dermatitis include redness, dryness, itching, swelling, and pain.
• Kwench’d Skin, lukewarm showers, loose-fitting clothing, avoiding direct sunlight, avoiding hot and spicy foods, and over-the-counter medications can help manage radiation dermatitis.
• If radiation dermatitis is severe or does not improve with home treatments, seek medical help.