A dry scratchiness in your throat and pain when swallowing can make it hard to eat or get a good night's sleep. Usually caused by a cold or the flu, a sore throat also can be a side effect of some breast cancer treatments.

The following treatments for breast cancer might cause a sore throat:

• chemotherapy
• radiation therapy
• Faslodex (chemical name: fulvestrant), a hormonal therapy
• Arimidex (chemical name: anastrozole), a hormonal therapy
• Tykerb (chemical name: lapatinib), a targeted therapy

A sore throat also can be caused by some pain medications.

Managing a sore throat

If your sore throat lasts longer than a week, or if you have difficulty breathing, swollen or tender glands in your neck, or pus in your throat, call you doctor. You might have an infection. Try these tips to soothe a sore throat:

• Gargle with warm salt water at least once an hour to help ease pain.
• Stay hydrated with warm fluids such as tea or clear soup to soothe your throat.
• Drink warm water with honey and lemon to help ease pain.
• Eat soft, cool foods such as milkshakes and pudding to soothe the discomfort.
• Try throat lozenges to help relieve the pain. Menthol throat lozenges can cool nasal passages.
• Keep a humidifier or vaporizer in your bedroom. The cool mist can help soothe a swollen throat while you're sleeping.
• Avoid smoking and being around smoke -- smoke can make your throat feel worse.
• See the tips on how to manage swallowing problems if you’re having difficulty swallowing.