Does radiotherapy treat breast cancer?

After breast-conserving surgery, radiotherapy may treat the remaining breast tissue. After a mastectomy, it may be considered for the chest wall or lymph nodes when the tumour features or extent make local treatment useful. Some people also receive radiation to a particular area when breast cancer has spread and that area is causing symptoms.

A specialist team selects the area and dose using examination and imaging. Common effects include tiredness and skin changes in the treated area. The breast or chest can feel swollen or tender for a time, and the team can suggest practical skin-care measures.

Ask which tissues will be treated and whether the plan includes lymph nodes. Tell the team about pregnancy or possible pregnancy, implants, heart or lung conditions, previous radiation and medicines that affect the skin.

Wear comfortable clothing, follow the radiation team's skin-care advice and attend planning and review visits. Report increasing redness, broken skin, breathlessness or persistent pain so the team can assess it.

Contact the treatment team promptly for rapidly worsening skin soreness, open or weeping skin, fever, new breathlessness, chest pain or swelling of an arm. Sudden severe breathlessness or chest pain needs urgent medical assessment.

Why is radiotherapy recommended in my case? Will the breast, chest wall, lymph nodes or another site be treated? How can I care for my skin, and which changes should lead me to call the team?