Re: Question

[per.hall@mep.ki.se (Per Hall)]

>          A woman will be undergoing X-ray treatment to her right
>          breast.  One of her co-workers had similar treatment and got
>          very sick toward the end.
>
>          If the x-ray beam is directed at the breast why would a
>          person feel ill in the rest of her body?  The beam will be
>          aimed across the chest not down into the chest.
>
>          My best guess is that she is to receive 5000 rad locally
>          over 25 days.
>
Answer:
There are several reason why a person given radiotherapy towards the breast
could feel "very sick toward the end" of the treatment.  Skin burns are
frequent but should be taken care of by the personal at the radiation
department.  A more difficult problem is the pneumonitis but it rarely
occurs during therapy more likely a couple of months later.
My experience is that most patients previously operated, getting adjuvant
radiation therapy, develops a slight "depression" and tiredness due to the
fact that they have to come to the department once a day for several weeks
and meet patients with the same disease but worse of.  Even though the
doctor told them that they were cured they still have to come the hospital.
There is no real physical cause for feeling "ill in the rest of her body".

Best regards,

Per Hall, MD, PhD                          Tel: +46 8 728 6152
Dept. of Medical Epidemiology        Fax: +46 8 314957
Karolinska Institute                          e-mail: per.hall@mep.ki.se

PO Box 281
SE-171 77 Stockholm
Sweden


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