Think Pinker

Radiation treatment has proven to reduce the risk of breast cancer returning. Radiation treatments deliver a very precise amount of radiation to the cancer cells, stopping the cancer cells from reproducing. It can be used after a lumpectomy or mastectomy. It is also used in conjunction with chemo, and if cancer has spread into the bones.

Radiation doesn’t hurt, although there can be some side effects. Redness and dryness of the skin in the area treated, fatigue which usually starts about three weeks into the treatment, and reduce blood counts are fairly common side effects. Some women experience sore throat, sore mouth, or dry mouth.

According to Market Watch a recent study by the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, found that African American women with breast cancer who had a lumpectomy found that these women were less likely to receive radiation treatment compared to white women yet it’s a well known fact that radiation therapy can reduce the chance of the breast cancer reoccurring and it also improves survival rates.

This study doesn’t address why African American women aren’t receiving the same treatments as white women. I suppose that’s a whole other story. But from our perspective these are frightening statistics, especially since the American Cancer Society says there will be almost 20,000 new cases of breast cancer diagnosed this year in African American women. More than 5,650 African American women will die from breast cancer this year alone.

What’s the message here? The message is that all women need to receive aggressive treatments to eradicate breast cancer or at least give the women a fighting chance. It should not matter whether you are Caucasian, African American, Chinese, Indonesian, or any other race. All women in America should have access to the same treatments. Ask your doctor about radiation.