We subscribe to the HONcode principles of the Health On the Net Foundation. The short-term side effects, the things that you'll experience if you're going through the treatment, include some redness and perhaps swelling of the breast. And that goes away once the treatment is finished. Long-term side effects may include some swelling that lingers in the breast or under the arm. And sometimes a little bit of discoloration of the skin, like a suntan on the breast tissue.
Some women complain of fatigue during the treatment.
That's usually very mild and goes away after a few weeks. But most women actually tolerate radiation therapy very well. The long-term side effects other than some swelling are very few and very rare. I think there really are not many serious long-term side effects to radiation. But they sometimes occur.