Full Answer
How long does it take to recover from radiation treatment?
The general effects of radiation therapy like fatigue, nausea, and headaches resolve fairly quickly after treatment. Your body just needs time to process the radiation but can recover within a few weeks. Delayed side effects of radiation therapy, on the other hand, may require further treatment to alleviate.
What are the long - term effects of radiation treatment?
- your skin might look darker than it was before in the treated area – as if it is suntanned
- your skin in the treatment area will always be slightly more sensitive to the sun
- your skin might feel different to touch
- your hair might grow back a different colour or texture in the treatment area
- you might have permanent hair loss within the treated area
What to expect after radiation is completed?
- Meeting with other care teams for additional treatment, if needed
- Meeting with the cancer survivorship team for supportive care
- Watching for side effects that can develop after treatment
What are the side effects of radiation therapy?
Some possible late effects are:
- fertility problems (if you had radiation therapy to the pelvis)
- heart problems (if you had radiation to the chest)
- lung problems (if you had radiation to the chest)
- changes in skin colour
- mental or emotional problems (if you had radiation to the head and neck or brain)
- osteoporosis
- second cancers
What are the most common side effects of radiation therapy?
Early and late effects of radiation therapy The most common early side effects are fatigue (feeling tired) and skin changes. Other early side effects usually are related to the area being treated, such as hair loss and mouth problems when radiation treatment is given to this area.
What can I expect at my first radiation treatment?
During your first visit, your doctor will evaluate your need for radiation therapy and its likely results. This includes reviewing your current medical problems, past medical history, past surgical history, family history, medications, allergies and lifestyle.
Is radiation treatment painful?
Does radiation therapy hurt? No, radiation therapy does not hurt while it is being given. But the side effects that people may get from radiation therapy can cause pain and discomfort. This booklet has a lot of information about ways that you and your doctor and nurse can help manage side effects.
What happens when you go through radiation therapy?
At high doses, radiation therapy kills cancer cells or slows their growth by damaging their DNA. Cancer cells whose DNA is damaged beyond repair stop dividing or die. When the damaged cells die, they are broken down and removed by the body. Radiation therapy does not kill cancer cells right away.
Do you feel sick after first radiation treatment?
Radiation therapy near the abdomen, pelvic region or head – you may feel sick (nauseated), with or without vomiting, for several hours after each treatment. Your radiation oncologist may prescribe medicine (antiemetic) to take at home before and after each session to prevent nausea.
What should you avoid during radiation?
Avoid raw vegetables and fruits, and other hard, dry foods such as chips or pretzels. It's also best to avoid salty, spicy or acidic foods if you are experiencing these symptoms. Your care team can recommend nutrient-based oral care solutions if you are experiencing mucositis or mouth sores caused by cancer treatment.
Can I drive myself to radiation treatments?
Unless you feel ill, you can typically drive yourself to treatment. In fact, many patients are able to work full-time during their treatment.
Is radiation worse than chemo?
The radiation beams change the DNA makeup of the tumor, causing it to shrink or die. This type of cancer treatment has fewer side effects than chemotherapy since it only targets one area of the body.
Can you wear clothes during radiation?
Wear loose, soft, cotton clothing over the area being treated. Avoid stiff or starched clothing near the area being treated. Do not put anything but mild soap (such as Dove) and lukewarm water on the skin in the treated area, unless the doctor or nurse says that it is safe to do so.
What does radiation feel like?
Symptoms are extreme nervousness and confusion; severe nausea, vomiting, and watery diarrhea; loss of consciousness; and burning sensations of the skin. Onset occurs within minutes of exposure. Stage lasts for minutes to hours.
What does radiation fatigue feel like?
Feeling very tired and lacking energy (fatigue) for day-to-day activities is the most common side effect of radiation therapy to any area of the body. During treatment, your body uses a lot of energy dealing with the effects of radiation on normal cells.
What are 5 effects of radiation?
Radiation Effects on HumansDose (rem)Effects5-20Possible late effects; possible chromosomal damage.20-100Temporary reduction in white blood cells.100-200Mild radiation sickness within a few hours: vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue; reduction in resistance to infection.4 more rows
How long does radiation treatment last?
What Happens During Radiation. The treatment is normally Monday through Friday and lasts about 45 minutes. A lot of time is spent getting your body in the right position, so the radiation hits its desired locations. You lay down on a custom-molded table. A technician positions your body using lasers and measurements.
How long does it take for radiation to hit your body?
This may seem scary, but this ensures the radiation does not hit healthy areas. The radiation takes a couple of minutes. You can sense when the radiation hits your body if you receive radiation to your brain.
Does radiation cause hair loss?
Radiation to your brain causes hair loss, but over time it grows back. As your hair grows again, so will you. Remember, during and after radiation treatment, listen to your body, ask questions, acknowledge side effects and adjust.
How long does radiation therapy last?
Type of radiation therapy used. Most external beam radiation, when used to shrink a tumor before surgery, is administered five days a week for five to eight weeks. Fewer treatments may be used if the goal is easing cancer-related symptoms.
How long does it take to get a radiation treatment?
This process can take up to two weeks before you return for your first actual radiation therapy treatment. When your treatment plan is developed, it will outline whether you will be receiving radiation therapy before, during, or after other treatments.
What is radiation therapy?
Radiation therapy used as preoperative therapy to shrink a tumor that will then be removed surgically is referred to as neoadjuvant therapy. When radiation is administered at the same time as chemotherapy or immunotherapy, it’s called concurrent treatment.
What is radiation therapy after surgery called?
Radiation therapy used as a treatment after surgery or chemotherapy is called adjuvant therapy . Its goal is to kill off any cancer cells that may have been left behind to reduce the chances of recurrence.
What is the difference between a radiation physicist and a dosimetrist?
Radiation physicist: Calibrates radiation equipment and ensures it delivers the proper amount of radiation as prescribed by your radiation oncologist. Dosimetrist: Uses computer imaging to create a radiation delivery plan based on the location of the tumor.
What is the only treatment for cancer?
In some cases, radiation therapy will be the only treatment needed to treat a cancer, but often it is used in conjunction with other treatments, such as surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or some combination.
How many sessions of radiation therapy for cancer?
Internal radiation therapy for cancer may be completed in one session or a series of three to five sessions about a week apart .
Radiation Therapy Side Effects
Some people experience side effects from radiation oncology treatment. Radiation along with chemotherapy can heighten side effects.
Contact the Radiation Oncology Program at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center
To learn more about what to expect during radiation oncology treatment at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, please call us at 412-647-2811.
Consultation
Your treatment process begins with a consultation visit with your radiation oncologist and other key members of your treatment team.
Treatment Planning
The next step is to plan the radiation therapy through a process known as “simulation.” During this phase, your treatment team will collect visual information to determine your optimal treatment plan utilizing specialized imaging devices, such as a Computed Tomography (CT) scanner.
Treatment
The first appointment in the treatment phase is dedicated to orienting you to the department and double-checking the plan that was designed for you during the Treatment Planning phase. When you arrive for this session, your team, including medical assistants and administrative assistants, will review check-in procedures and other logistics.
Follow-Up
Towards the end of your radiation treatments, your radiation oncologist will discuss an individualized plan for follow-up. In general, you will continue to see your radiation oncologist and/or members of his/her team on a regular basis to assess the response to the treatment and monitor and treat any side effects.
Your Treatment Team
Your treatment team will include highly skilled and experienced physicians and other health care professionals who work together seamlessly to ensure you receive safe, personalized and effective care customized to your specific disease:
Radiation Treatment at Baystate Health: Why Choose Us?
As western Massachusetts’s largest radiation oncology program, Baystate Health offers an exceptional care experience. You benefit from the recommendations of multiple radiation oncologists, all of whom follow leading care practices and have individual expertise in different cancer types.
What to Expect Before Radiation Treatment
Our team starts caring for you long before your first treatment session. Steps that take place before radiation therapy include:
What to Expect During and After Radiation Treatment
Baystate Health uses state-of-the-art, fast, accurate machines, so you receive effective care in less time. Treatments take as little as 15 minutes.
Find Out More About Our Radiation Therapy Services
To learn more about our services or make an appointment, call 413-794-9338 or request an appointment.
Your Partner in Breast Health
Learn about breast care & wellness, including information about screenings, self-exams, and more.
Our Locations
This is an early evening support group for caregivers of people with cancer.
How long does radiation treatment last?
Each session lasts about 10-20 minutes.
What to do if you don't live near a radiation treatment center?
If you don’t live near the radiation treatment center, it can be hard to get to and from therapy sessions. Sometimes, there are programs that help with local or long-distance transportation and lodging.
What is hypofractionated breast irradiation?
This is called hypofractionated whole-breast irradiation. It’s like standard whole-breast radiation therapy except it uses a slightly higher dose of radiation per session (hypofractionation). This reduces the number of treatment sessions, making the overall course shorter. For most women with early breast cancer, ...
What is radiation therapy for breast cancer?
Radiation therapy is planned specifically for your breast cancer, the shape of your body and your internal anatomy. This is why sessions can’t be split between different treatment centers. Your treatment plan is based on: The tumor size, type and location. The number of lymph nodes with cancer. The type of breast surgery (and lymph node surgery) ...
How long does it take to get a breast irradiated after a lumpectomy?
Partial breast irradiation delivers radiation only to the area around the tumor bed (the space where the tumor was removed during lumpectomy). It’s typically done in a shortened course over only 5-10 days.
What is brachytherapy in cancer?
Brachytherapy uses targeted radiation placed inside the tumor bed. Implanted radiation “seeds” (interstitial radiation therapy) or a single small balloon device (intracavitary radiation therapy) can be used to deliver the radiation. External beam radiation therapy uses standard external beam radiation therapy, but only targets the tumor bed.
What is the purpose of CT scan for radiation oncology?
They will use a CT scan to guide the radiation planning. During the planning session, your radiation oncologist will put small marks (about the size of a pinhead) on your skin.
Finding Premiere Experts and Care
What Happens During Radiation
- The treatment is normally Monday through Friday and lasts about 45 minutes. A lot of time is spent getting your body in the right position, so the radiation hits its desired locations. You lay down on a custom-molded table. A technician positions your body using lasers and measurements. When you are aligned, a mouthguard and wired head case are pla...
What Happens After Radiation
- Radiation side effects are different for each person. You may be able to exercise or perform your ‘normal’ activities. Or you may not. Side effects also tend to get worse as more treatments are given. I lost my hair, experienced a great deal of fatigue and nausea, and skin dryness on treated areas. When these changes happen, acknowledge your side effects and react. No one expects y…
Advice For Others
- After four surgeries and multiple radiation treatments, I live with neuropathy in my feet, nerve damage to my legs, and drop foot on my right foot. I also have radiation retinopathy in my eyes. I go to rehab regularly and receive shots in my eyes to help my vision and reduce swelling. Going through cancer for so long, you have to live through every single hard day to put things into pers…
Consultation
- Your treatment process begins with a consultation visit with your radiation oncologist and other key members of your treatment team. They will review your treatment choices, explain possible side effects from your treatment, address any questions and concerns you and your family may have, and obtain your consent to proceed with your personalized treatment plan and schedule. T…
Treatment Planning
- The next step is to plan the radiation therapy through a process known as “simulation.” During this phase, your treatment team will collect visual information to determine your optimal treatment plan utilizing specialized imaging devices, such as a Computed Tomography (CT) scanner. The images created enable your team to map out the exact location o...
Treatment
- The first appointment in the treatment phase is dedicated to orienting you to the department and double-checking the plan that was designed for you during the Treatment Planning phase. When you arrive for this session, your team, including medical assistants and administrative assistants, will review check-in procedures and other logistics. You may be asked to change into a hospital …
Follow-Up
- Towards the end of your radiation treatments, your radiation oncologist will discuss an individualized plan for follow-up. In general, you will continue to see your radiation oncologist and/or members of his/her team on a regular basis to assess the response to the treatment and monitor and treat any side effects. Should you have any questions or concerns between these s…
Your Treatment Team
- Your treatment team will include highly skilled and experienced physicians and other health care professionals who work together seamlessly to ensure you receive safe, personalized and effective care customized to your specific disease: 1. Radiation Oncologists who oversee your radiation treatment in close coordination with other specialists from medical oncology and/or su…