Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy can destroy cancer cells that have spread from your breast to another part of your body, also helping to relieve symptoms of secondary breast cancer.

If you’ve had a test which shows that oestrogen is helping your cancer grow, you can also have radiotherapy to stop your ovaries from producing this hormone.

Radiotherapy courses for secondary breast cancer are usually shorter than for primary (early) breast cancer, so the side effects should be milder. Radiotherapy to your ovaries may give you some menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes, vaginal dryness and mood swings. If it does, tell your doctor or cancer nurse - they may be able to recommend something to help.

There’s more information about the side effects of radiotherapy at the Breast Cancer Care website.