Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhy It OccursSymptomsDiagnosisTreatmentPreventionCopingSummaryA Word From VerywellFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Why It Occurs
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prevention
Coping
Summary
A Word From Verywell
Frequently Asked Questions
Fibrosis is a potentially painful, lifelong condition, as the tissue changes may be permanent. However, you have a lot of options for treating it, including medications, physical therapy, and more.
This article explains what you need to know about radiation-induced breast fibrosis, including its causes, symptoms, and treatment options.
Science Photo Library / Getty Images
Radiation therapy kills cancer cells, but it also affects normal cells located near the cancerous ones. The DNA of these healthy cells can be damaged, and small blood vessels in the area may become damaged or sealed off, which restricts blood flow.
When the blood supply to the normal tissue is cut off, the tissue no longer gets the nourishment it needs to function properly. Cell damage combined with inadequate blood can cause scarring.
The breast and chest wall are commonly affected, given the focus of radiation for breast cancer treatment.It’s become rare due to modern techniques, but radiation for breast cancer can also cause fibrosis to:
Fibrosis is common after radiation for other types of cancer as well, especially with cancers of the head and neck.
In the breast and chest, fibrosis can feel like a mass and make you worry that cancer has come back. Knowing about the possibility and symptoms of fibrosis can help ease that fear.
The typical symptoms and progression of breast and chest fibrosis are:
Fibrosis may lead to an illness called radiation fibrosis syndrome (RFS). RFS is progressive, meaning it will generally get worse without treatment. Symptoms of RFS may be:Muscle weaknessNeuropathy (pain from damaged nerves)Muscle pain, spasm, or tightness
Fibrosis may lead to an illness called radiation fibrosis syndrome (RFS). RFS is progressive, meaning it will generally get worse without treatment. Symptoms of RFS may be:
If pulmonary fibrosis is developing, symptoms may include:
The ribs are a common area for fibrosis due to breast cancer treatment. When fibrosis affects bones, it can cause:
To ease your mind and get early treatment, be sure to bring up possible symptoms of fibrosis or cancer recurrence with your healthcare provider right away.
Symptoms and Risk of Breast Cancer Recurrence
Your healthcare provider can diagnose fibrosis or RFS using a combination of techniques:
The specific imaging tests will depend on the location and nature of the symptoms.
It may not be possible to completely cure radiation-related fibrosis. Rather, treatment is aimed at preventing progression and maintaining or restoring function. The exact approach depends on the location and nature of your fibrosis and whether it’s progressed to RFS. Options include medications, non-pharmacologic therapies, and other interventions.
Pentoxifyllineis a drug that promotes blood flow in small blood vessels. It can be used alone or in combination with other medications (such as tocopherol or vitamin E) to prevent or treat radiation fibrosis. Clinical trials have shown that pentoxifylline can help minimize injury to the lungs, skin, and soft tissues in patients who have received radiation therapy.Pentoxifylline can also be used for treatment, and can partially reverse fibrosis of soft tissues.
Topical steroids, creams containing hyaluronic acid, and other creams or gels may help reduce skin-related symptoms of radiation therapy.Other drugs that may help reduce symptoms include over-the-counter pain medications, opioids for pain, medications for neuropathy (such as pregabalin), and muscle relaxants or trigger-point injections for spasms. Botulinum toxin (Botox) injection may also be used for muscle spasms.
Non-pharmacologic therapies may also be helpful in alleviating symptoms. This includes application of heat and use of a supportive, well-fitting bra.Physical therapy can help increase or maintain range of motion, while conventional massage and deep friction massage can improve the appearance of skin and help relieve muscle spasms.
Small studies have looked at hyperbaric oxygen therapy for treatment of radiation fibrosis, with some benefit reported. Doctors have also explored surgical options. One of these is autologous fat grafting, in which surgeons remove fat from one part of your body and inject it into the radiated skin. This has shown some promise in rejuvenating affected skin and reducing radiation-related complications.
An Overview of Breast Pain
Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) is a technique that uses imaging and computer-controlled beams to deliver radiation to the tumor only, sparing the tissue around it.Proton-beam therapyis another type of radiation therapy that precisely delivers radiation while avoiding normal structures around the tumor. Proton-beam therapy is relatively new, but is becoming more widely available around the country.
While several treatment options may be available to you, you may still have to deal with long-term symptoms. Communicate with your healthcare provider about the full range of your symptoms, how debilitating they are, and what treatments do or don’t seem to help.
As both a cancer survivor and someone dealing with a chronic condition, you may benefit from mental health counseling. Many people in your situation get a lot out of support groups as well.
Radiation therapy is an important tool for healthcare providers treating breast cancer. A drawback of treatment is the risk of fibrosis—scar tissue that may develop in the breast, chest wall, or underlying lung tissue. Radiation fibrosis can be long-lasting, and though it may not be possible to completely cure it, there are many treatment options that can improve symptoms and reverse some of the changes. Newer radiation treatment strategies can minimize the risk that radiation fibrosis develops at all.
Fighting cancer sometimes involves battling not only the disease itself but also the side effects of treatment. Radiation-induced fibrosis can be a long-lasting, painful side effect of radiation therapy. There are many treatment options, but some may work better than others, and finding the best combination may turn into a long journey.
Patients do best when they can advocate for themselves. Learn about treatment options and talk to your healthcare providers about your symptoms. Be clear about how debilitating they are, and tell them which treatments help and which do not.
Prioritize your mental health. You may benefit from counseling or support groups, which may be available in your area or online.
Frequently Asked QuestionsDoctors once thought that radiation fibrosis was completely irreversible. More recently, this assumption has been questioned. It has been learned that certain drugs and surgical procedures (like autologous fat grafting) can help reverse some of the changes associated with radiation fibrosis. While radiation fibrosis may not be completely curable, there are many treatments that can help.Your risk of radiation-induced fibrosis is very variable, and depends on treatment factors such as the radiation dose and the size and location of the treated area. Other factors that can influence your risk include prior radiation treatment, whether you are genetically susceptible to fibrosis, and other diseases you may have (such as diabetes).Radiation fibrosis is scar tissue that develops in response to radiation therapy. In the breast and chest, fibrosis can feel like a firm mass that develops over time.It may be helpful to perform frequent self-exams so that you know how your breasts feel and can be alert to any new changes. Routine screening with mammography can help your doctors distinguish a new breast tumor (which gets bigger over time) from scarring (which tends to stay stable).It can be. Radiation can cause injury to skin, muscles, and nerves. In some cases, pain, loss of range of motion, and muscle spasms can develop. Several options are available to help prevent and treat radiation fibrosis.
Doctors once thought that radiation fibrosis was completely irreversible. More recently, this assumption has been questioned. It has been learned that certain drugs and surgical procedures (like autologous fat grafting) can help reverse some of the changes associated with radiation fibrosis. While radiation fibrosis may not be completely curable, there are many treatments that can help.
Your risk of radiation-induced fibrosis is very variable, and depends on treatment factors such as the radiation dose and the size and location of the treated area. Other factors that can influence your risk include prior radiation treatment, whether you are genetically susceptible to fibrosis, and other diseases you may have (such as diabetes).
Radiation fibrosis is scar tissue that develops in response to radiation therapy. In the breast and chest, fibrosis can feel like a firm mass that develops over time.It may be helpful to perform frequent self-exams so that you know how your breasts feel and can be alert to any new changes. Routine screening with mammography can help your doctors distinguish a new breast tumor (which gets bigger over time) from scarring (which tends to stay stable).
Radiation fibrosis is scar tissue that develops in response to radiation therapy. In the breast and chest, fibrosis can feel like a firm mass that develops over time.
It may be helpful to perform frequent self-exams so that you know how your breasts feel and can be alert to any new changes. Routine screening with mammography can help your doctors distinguish a new breast tumor (which gets bigger over time) from scarring (which tends to stay stable).
It can be. Radiation can cause injury to skin, muscles, and nerves. In some cases, pain, loss of range of motion, and muscle spasms can develop. Several options are available to help prevent and treat radiation fibrosis.
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Hojan K, Milecki P.Opportunities for rehabilitation of patients with radiation fibrosis syndrome.Rep Pract Oncol Radiother. 2013 Aug 8;19(1):1-6. doi: 10.1016/j.rpor.2013.07.007. PMCID:PMC4056465DOI:10.1016/j.rpor.2013.07.007Warpenburg MJ.Deep friction massage in treatment of radiation-induced fibrosis: rehabilitative care for breast cancer survivors.Integ Med. 2014 Oct;13(5):32-6.PMCID:PMC4684108Aygenc E, Celikkanat S, Kaymakci M, Aksaray F, Ozdem C. Prophylactic effect of pentoxifylline on radiotherapy complications: a clinical study. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2004 Mar;130(3):351-6. doi: 10.1016/j.otohns.2003.08.015. PMID: 15054378.Misirlioglu CH, Demirkasimoglu T, Kucukplakci B, Sanri E, Altundag K. Pentoxifylline and alpha-tocopherol in prevention of radiation-induced lung toxicity in patients with lung cancer. Med Oncol. 2007;24(3):308-11. doi: 10.1007/s12032-007-0006-z. PMID: 17873306.Borrelli MR, Shen AH, Lee GK, Momeni A, Longaker MT, Wan DC. Radiation-Induced Skin Fibrosis: Pathogenesis, Current Treatment Options, and Emerging Therapeutics.Ann Plast Surg. 2019;83(4S Suppl 1):S59-S64. doi:10.1097/SAP.0000000000002098American Cancer Society, “Fibrosis and Simple Cysts in the Breast"Additional ReadingStraub JM, New J, Hamilton CD, et al.Radiation-induced fibrosis: mechanisms and implications for therapy.J Cancer Res Clin Oncol. 2015 Nov;141(11):1985-94. doi: 10.1007/s00432-015-1974-6.Weiss, E.Clinical manifestations, prevention, and treatment of radiation-induced fibrosis. UpToDate.
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Hojan K, Milecki P.Opportunities for rehabilitation of patients with radiation fibrosis syndrome.Rep Pract Oncol Radiother. 2013 Aug 8;19(1):1-6. doi: 10.1016/j.rpor.2013.07.007. PMCID:PMC4056465DOI:10.1016/j.rpor.2013.07.007Warpenburg MJ.Deep friction massage in treatment of radiation-induced fibrosis: rehabilitative care for breast cancer survivors.Integ Med. 2014 Oct;13(5):32-6.PMCID:PMC4684108Aygenc E, Celikkanat S, Kaymakci M, Aksaray F, Ozdem C. Prophylactic effect of pentoxifylline on radiotherapy complications: a clinical study. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2004 Mar;130(3):351-6. doi: 10.1016/j.otohns.2003.08.015. PMID: 15054378.Misirlioglu CH, Demirkasimoglu T, Kucukplakci B, Sanri E, Altundag K. Pentoxifylline and alpha-tocopherol in prevention of radiation-induced lung toxicity in patients with lung cancer. Med Oncol. 2007;24(3):308-11. doi: 10.1007/s12032-007-0006-z. PMID: 17873306.Borrelli MR, Shen AH, Lee GK, Momeni A, Longaker MT, Wan DC. Radiation-Induced Skin Fibrosis: Pathogenesis, Current Treatment Options, and Emerging Therapeutics.Ann Plast Surg. 2019;83(4S Suppl 1):S59-S64. doi:10.1097/SAP.0000000000002098American Cancer Society, “Fibrosis and Simple Cysts in the Breast"Additional ReadingStraub JM, New J, Hamilton CD, et al.Radiation-induced fibrosis: mechanisms and implications for therapy.J Cancer Res Clin Oncol. 2015 Nov;141(11):1985-94. doi: 10.1007/s00432-015-1974-6.Weiss, E.Clinical manifestations, prevention, and treatment of radiation-induced fibrosis. UpToDate.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Hojan K, Milecki P.Opportunities for rehabilitation of patients with radiation fibrosis syndrome.Rep Pract Oncol Radiother. 2013 Aug 8;19(1):1-6. doi: 10.1016/j.rpor.2013.07.007. PMCID:PMC4056465DOI:10.1016/j.rpor.2013.07.007Warpenburg MJ.Deep friction massage in treatment of radiation-induced fibrosis: rehabilitative care for breast cancer survivors.Integ Med. 2014 Oct;13(5):32-6.PMCID:PMC4684108Aygenc E, Celikkanat S, Kaymakci M, Aksaray F, Ozdem C. Prophylactic effect of pentoxifylline on radiotherapy complications: a clinical study. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2004 Mar;130(3):351-6. doi: 10.1016/j.otohns.2003.08.015. PMID: 15054378.Misirlioglu CH, Demirkasimoglu T, Kucukplakci B, Sanri E, Altundag K. Pentoxifylline and alpha-tocopherol in prevention of radiation-induced lung toxicity in patients with lung cancer. Med Oncol. 2007;24(3):308-11. doi: 10.1007/s12032-007-0006-z. PMID: 17873306.Borrelli MR, Shen AH, Lee GK, Momeni A, Longaker MT, Wan DC. Radiation-Induced Skin Fibrosis: Pathogenesis, Current Treatment Options, and Emerging Therapeutics.Ann Plast Surg. 2019;83(4S Suppl 1):S59-S64. doi:10.1097/SAP.0000000000002098American Cancer Society, “Fibrosis and Simple Cysts in the Breast”
Hojan K, Milecki P.Opportunities for rehabilitation of patients with radiation fibrosis syndrome.Rep Pract Oncol Radiother. 2013 Aug 8;19(1):1-6. doi: 10.1016/j.rpor.2013.07.007. PMCID:
PMC4056465
DOI:
10.1016/j.rpor.2013.07.007
Warpenburg MJ.Deep friction massage in treatment of radiation-induced fibrosis: rehabilitative care for breast cancer survivors.Integ Med. 2014 Oct;13(5):32-6.
PMCID:
PMC4684108
Aygenc E, Celikkanat S, Kaymakci M, Aksaray F, Ozdem C. Prophylactic effect of pentoxifylline on radiotherapy complications: a clinical study. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2004 Mar;130(3):351-6. doi: 10.1016/j.otohns.2003.08.015. PMID: 15054378.
Misirlioglu CH, Demirkasimoglu T, Kucukplakci B, Sanri E, Altundag K. Pentoxifylline and alpha-tocopherol in prevention of radiation-induced lung toxicity in patients with lung cancer. Med Oncol. 2007;24(3):308-11. doi: 10.1007/s12032-007-0006-z. PMID: 17873306.
Borrelli MR, Shen AH, Lee GK, Momeni A, Longaker MT, Wan DC. Radiation-Induced Skin Fibrosis: Pathogenesis, Current Treatment Options, and Emerging Therapeutics.Ann Plast Surg. 2019;83(4S Suppl 1):S59-S64. doi:10.1097/SAP.0000000000002098
American Cancer Society, “Fibrosis and Simple Cysts in the Breast”
Straub JM, New J, Hamilton CD, et al.Radiation-induced fibrosis: mechanisms and implications for therapy.J Cancer Res Clin Oncol. 2015 Nov;141(11):1985-94. doi: 10.1007/s00432-015-1974-6.Weiss, E.Clinical manifestations, prevention, and treatment of radiation-induced fibrosis. UpToDate.
Straub JM, New J, Hamilton CD, et al.Radiation-induced fibrosis: mechanisms and implications for therapy.J Cancer Res Clin Oncol. 2015 Nov;141(11):1985-94. doi: 10.1007/s00432-015-1974-6.
Weiss, E.Clinical manifestations, prevention, and treatment of radiation-induced fibrosis. UpToDate.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
