Effect of radiotherapy in breast cancer patients on pulmonary function

Abstract

Cancer of the breast is the most common malignancy in women not only in Egypt but also worldwide and represents the main cause of cancer-related death in females. Radiotherapy is a cornerstone in breast cancer management as it decreases local recurrence and improves overall survival. Treating breast cancer patients with adjuvant (post-operative) radiotherapy is considered one of the most common tools in the process of management. Radiation-induced lung injury is a prominent side effect in patients receiving radiotherapy in the chest region as the lungs are considered one of the main organs at risk due to reported radiation-induced pneumonitis or fibrosis. Decreasing toxicity is the main target of new radiotherapy techniques and updates in radiotherapy. Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) reveal lung functional changes in patients who may be either symptomatic or non-symptomatic. PFTs provide details about different aspects of lung function and provide information about obstructive and restrictive conditions. Spirometry, as a diagnostic tool, measures the rate of gas movement; the most commonly measured parameters are FEV1 and FVC. Besides measuring lung volumes and capacities, it also presents information about the responsiveness of airways, the influence of disease on lung function, the prognosis of the disease, and response to therapeutic interventions.