Argumentative Essay On Breast Cancer

Breast Cancer impacts many people, whether it is the person that has the illness themselves, or even their families. Breast cancer affects the patient in ways such as “burning breasts, hair loss, liver issues, and going for blood every single week, not to mention having a weakened immune system, and being sick constantly”(Brentin), as described in an interview. Even after one becomes cancer free there are still so many complications from breast cancer. When asked what some of the changes to her body were she said, “I now have tattoos on the sides of my breasts, this lets paramedics know that I have had radiation and that I cannot have blood drawn. These marks also let the hospital know that if I was ever to get diagnosed again, they would not …show more content…
Just like chemotherapy, “radiation damages cells that are in the path of its beam — normal cells as well as cancer cells”(How Radiation Therapy Works). Radiation treatment is extremely effective and is supposed to be relatively easy to tolerate for most patients. There are two major different types of radiation, External Beam radiation and HDR Brachytherapy (Staff). The External Beam radiation uses beams that, “are usually generated by a linear accelerator and targeted to destroy cancer cells while sparing surrounding normal tissues”(RSNA). HDR Brachytherapy can be used with surgery or even chemotherapy. After identifying which radiation treatment is necessary, the patient can begin to apply the …show more content…
Radiation uses high energy beams to destroy cancerous cells. However, when radiation is given in higher doses, the radiation will begin to destroy the healthy cells and tissues that surround the cancerous cells. For the majority of the side effects, they will only apply to where the cancer was; so for those with breast cancer a majority of possible side effects are most likely going to be in the breast area (Side Effects of Radiation). After receiving the radiation treatment, some patients might realize that their breasts are dry, itchy, peeling, and even blistering. These side effects are because of the impact the high energy beam, though, these side effects, “usually stop a few weeks after treatment has finished”(Side Effects of Radiation). Some may begin to feel extremely exhausted, but this again also depends on the patient and if they are receiving other treatments with radiation such as chemotherapy. Though most side effects disappear after a period of time when treatment is finished, there is a chance that a patient may end up with another cancer along the way. However, this is very rare and, “this risk is often smaller than the benefit of treating the primary, existing cancer”(Side Effects of Radiation). Radiation is another