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Page 325
| tomy of node-negative breast cancer found that the radiation reduced the recurrence of the cancer returning to the breast, but neither reduced the risk of metastatic cancer, nor produced a reduction in mortality. 52 |
| Aside from this, there are significant negative side effects of radiation to be considered. They include: |
| Suppression of sweat glands and dry mouth (xerostomia) |
| Weakening of the immune system that can cause respiratory illnesses like pneumonia |
| Electrocardiogram changes |
| An increased risk of developing sarcomas, leukemias, and additional breast cancer |
| My View |
| Although radiation is commonly used today after a lumpectomy, particularly to inhibit local recurrence, I do not believe it adds any benefit to either life expectancy or quality of life. Aside from the many negative side effects described in chapter 11, it may actually cause other cancers to form at a later date. See chapter 10 for more information on radiation. |
| Chemotherapy |
| Chemotherapy, treatment with cytotoxic drugs designed to attack cancer cells, is virtually standard protocol following surgery, but studies have shown that if a tumor is 1 cm or smaller, chemotherapy is not needed 53 and further, that if lymph nodes test negative, chemotherapy may not be beneficial at all.54 |
| My View |
| It's important to seriously weigh the decision to have chemotherapy because of the intense nature of its side effects, which include: |
| Early menopause |
| Immune suppression |
| Suppressed appetite, nausea, and vomiting |
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