Radiation Therapy to Treat Metastatic Breast Cancer

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If you've been diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer and are having symptoms, your doctor may recommend radiation to:

• control the cancer in a specific area
• ease pain
• lower the risk of a cancer-weakened bone breaking
• reduce internal bleeding or bleeding from the skin caused by tumor invasion
• open a blocked airway to improve breathing
• reduce pressure on a pinched nerve

The radiation dose and schedule to treat metastatic breast cancer depends on a number of factors, including:

• the level of pain or amount of function lost
• the size of the cancer
• the location of the cancer
• the amount of previous radiation you've had
• the schedule for any other treatments

To learn more about how radiation is used to relieve specific symptoms of metastatic breast cancer, as well as possible side effects, visit the Radiation section.

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