Background: The lung has a tiny regenerative capacity; it cannot tolerate prolonged doses of radiation. The critical injuries that eventually lead to impaired ventilation and diffusion capacity are related to the total amount, its fractionation, and the volume of lung irradiated. The absorption of ionizing radiation causes immediate subcellular and cellular damage while its gross morphological expression in terms of tissue injury.

Aim: To observe the effect of 5 weeks of Radiation Therapy on Pulmonary Functions in breast cancer patients.

Methodology: The study was carried out on ten subjects ranging in the age group of 35-65 years receiving radiation therapy where PFT parameters were recorded initially and at the end of every week for five weeks. Then parameters were compared pre radiation and every week after the radiation therapy for five weeks.

Result: Data was analyzed in terms of the mean difference. There were no significant changes that were found in the parameters of the pulmonary function test.

Conclusion: Changes in lung volume and capacities are expected after Radiation therapy but patient never present changes due to compensation concerning healthy changes which did not receive radiation. The current study concluded that no significant changes were seen in parameters of Pulmonary Function test that is pre radiation and end of every week for five weeks of Radiation Therapy in breast cancer patients.

 

Keywords: Radiation therapy, Pulmonary function test, Breast cancer