what are effects of radiation treatment

What are the advantages and disadvantages of radiation therapy?

Radiation therapy advantages. Radiation therapy causes the death of a large proportion of cancer cells within the entire tumor, The radiation alone may be used to cure certain small tumors, It causes the death of the microscopic disease at the periphery of the tumor (e.g. at the time of surgery), and it can shrink the tumors (which may help to relieve the mass effect).

What are the adverse effects of radiation therapy?

With that said, some common side effects of radiation therapy for lung cancer include:

• General weakness and fatigue
• Dry, red, itchy or peeling skin
• Shortness of breath
• Swallowing difficulties
• Sore throat
• Shoulder stiffness
• Radiation pneumonitis (coughing, fever and a sensation of fullness in the chest that can occur several weeks or months after radiation therapy)
• Radiation fibrosis (lung scarring)

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.

How bad is radiation treatment?

Radiation therapy treatment is provided by six health boards – Auckland ... So I think it’s not going to significantly worsen the situation, which is already bad enough as it is, but yes, it will have a bit of a knock on impact on people starting ...

What are 3 side effects of radiation therapy?

Treatment areas and possible side effectsPart of the body being treatedPossible side effectsBreastFatigue Hair loss Skin changes Swelling (edema) TendernessChestFatigue Hair loss Skin changes Throat problems, such as trouble swallowing Cough Shortness of breath5 more rows•Jan 11, 2022

How long do the effects of radiation last?

Most side effects go away within 1–2 months after you have finished radiation therapy.

How does radiation treatment affect the body?

Radiation therapy damages cells by destroying the genetic material that controls how cells grow and divide. While both healthy and cancerous cells are damaged by radiation therapy, the goal of radiation therapy is to destroy as few normal, healthy cells as possible.

What are the long-term side effects of radiation treatment?

What are the most common long-term side effects of radiation?Cataracts.Hair loss.Hearing loss.Memory loss ("It's hard to determine how much memory loss or cognitive dysfunction is related to a tumor and how much is related to radiotherapy," says Dr. Nowlan.

What are 5 harmful effects of radiation?

Here are a few common health effects or harmful effects of radiation on the human body.Hair. Loss of hair fall occurs when exposure to radiation is higher than 200 rems.Heart and Brain. Intense exposure to radiation from 1000 to 5000 rems will affect the functioning of the heart. ... Thyroid. ... Blood System. ... Reproductive Tract.

What are the worst side effects of radiation?

Specific side effects of radiation therapy that affect parts of the bodyHeadaches.Hair loss.Nausea.Vomiting.Extreme tiredness (fatigue)Hearing loss.Skin and scalp changes.Trouble with memory and speech.More items...•

What is the most common acute side effect of radiation treatment?

Fatigue is the most common acute side effect of radiation therapy. It is believed to be caused by the large amount of energy that is used by the body to heal itself in response to radiation therapy. Most people begin to feel fatigued about 2 weeks after radiation treatments begin.

How long does it take to recover from radiation?

Even though most radiation treatments only target specific collections of cancer cells, the effects of radiation can easily spread to nearby cells. Most recover within a few weeks, but some injuries develop later or require a longer recovery process.

What are the disadvantages of radiation therapy?

What are the disadvantages? Radiotherapy can cause side effects, including tiredness, sickness and runny poo (diarrhoea). If you have chemoradiotherapy, you may get side effects from the chemotherapy.

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.

What is the success rate of radiation therapy?

“In fact, based on the literature reviewed, it appears that external-beam radiation therapy is a superior treatment in some cases. “When patients are treated with modern external-beam radiation therapy, the overall cure rate was 93.3% with a metastasis-free survival rate at 5 years of 96.9%.

Is radiation worth the risk?

Benefits and Effectiveness. Radiation therapy (also called radiotherapy) is a highly effective cancer treatment with wide-ranging uses. Radiation therapy leads to cancer cure in many patients (either alone or with other treatments) and relieves symptoms or prolongs survival in more advanced cancers.

If You’Re Getting Radiation Therapy to The Brain

People with brain tumors often get stereotactic radiosurgery (radiation given in one large dose) if the cancer is in only one or a few sites in the...

If You’Re Getting Radiation Therapy to The Head Or Neck

People who get radiation to the head and neck might have side effects such as: 1. Soreness (or even open sores) in the mouth or throat 2. Dry mouth...

If You’Re Getting Radiation Therapy to The Breast

If you have radiation to the breast, it can affect your heart or lungs as well causing other side effects.

If You’Re Getting Radiation Therapy to The Chest

Radiation treatment to the chest may cause side effects such as: 1. Sore throat 2. Swallowing problems 3. Loss of appetite 4. Cough 5. Shortness of...

If You’Re Getting Radiation Therapy to The Abdomen (Belly)

If you are getting radiation to your stomach or some part of the abdomen (belly), you may have side effects such as: 1. Nausea 2. Vomiting 3. Belly...

If You’Re Having Radiation Therapy to The Pelvis

Radiation therapy to the pelvis (for example, as treatment for bladder, ovarian, or prostate cancer) can cause side effects such as: 1. Bladder pro...

What Are The Side Effects of Radiation Therapy?

The side effects of radiation therapy depend on the area of the body that receives radiation. Early side effects happen shortly after you receive r...

What Causes The Side Effects of Radiation Therapy?

Radiation can destroy or harm healthy tissues during treatment. This may cause side effects to happen anywhere in the body where radiation therapy...

How Are Side Effects of Radiation Therapy Diagnosed and Treated?

1. Your healthcare provider will ask you about your symptoms and decide if they are side effects of radiation therapy. Radiation therapy may preven...

How Can I Manage My Symptoms?

1. Manage your fatigue. Do short periods of physical activity to help decrease fatigue. Walk for 15 to 30 minutes each day. You can also take a sho...

Where Can I Find More Information?

1. 1. American Cancer Society250 Williams StreetAtlanta , GA 30303Phone: 1- 800 - 227-2345Web Address: http://www.cancer.org 2. 1. National Cancer...

When Should I Seek Immediate Care?

1. Your heart feels like it is beating faster than usual or you have shortness of breath. 2. You have a headache, dizziness, or blurred vision. 3....

When Should I Contact My Healthcare Provider?

1. You have a fever. 2. The area of your skin where you received treatment blisters, peels, becomes more painful, or drains fluid. 3. You have trou...

How long does it take for a person to recover from radiation?

Skin changes. Urinary and bladder changes. Healthy cells that are damaged during radiation treatment usually recover within a few months after treatment is over. But sometimes people may have side effects that do not improve. Other side effects may show up months or years after radiation therapy is over.

Does radiation make you tired?

People feel fatigue in different ways and you may feel more or less fatigue than someone else who is getting the same amount of radiation therapy to the same part of the body. Other radiation therapy side effects you may have depend on the part of the body that is treated.

Does radiation therapy cause cancer?

Radiation Therapy Side Effects. Radiation not only kills or slows the growth of cancer cells, it can also affect nearby healthy cells. Damage to healthy cells can cause side effects. Many people who get radiation therapy have fatigue. Fatigue is feeling exhausted and worn out.

What are site-specific side effects of radiation therapy?

Some side effects depend on the type and location of where radiation therapy is directed at on the body.

How long do side effects of radiation last?

Other people experience more severe side effects. Reactions to the radiation therapy often start during the second or third week of treatment. Or, they may last for several weeks after the final treatment. Some side effects may be long term.

Why do people use radiation therapy?

High doses of radiation therapy are used to destroy cancer cells. Side effects come from damage to healthy cells and tissues near the treatment area. There have been major research advances in radiation therapy in recent years that have made it more precise.

How long does it take for a radiation reaction to show up?

Typically, these side effects start within days or weeks of radiation therapy. But they can also appear months or years later. Doctors treat radiation recall with medications called corticosteroids.

How long does it take for skin to change after radiation?

These side effects depend on which part of the body received radiation therapy and other factors. Skin changes from radiation therapy usually go away a few weeks after treatment ends. If skin damage becomes a serious problem, your doctor may change your treatment plan. Lotion may help with skin changes, but be sure to check with your nurse or other health care team about which cream they recommend and when to apply it. It is also best to protect affected skin from the sun. Learn more about skin-related side effects.

What is radiation recall?

Radiation recall is a rash that looks like a severe sunburn. It is rare and happens when certain types of chemotherapy are given during or soon after external-beam radiation therapy. The rash appears on the part of the body that received radiation.

What is the best way to treat cancer side effects?

Preventing and treating side effects is an important part of your overall cancer treatment. This is called palliative care or supportive care. Before treatment begins, ask what side effects are likely from the specific type of treatment you are receiving and when they may happen.

How Soon Might I Have Side Effects From Radiation Therapy?

Early side effects, such as nausea and fatigue, usually don’t last long. They may start during or right after treatment and last for several weeks after it ends, but then they get better. Late side effects, such as lung or heart problems, may take years to show up and are often permanent when they do.

What Kind of Skin Problems Can Radiation Therapy Cause?

It may look red, sunburned, or tanned. It may also get swollen or blistered. Your skin may also become dry, flaky, or itchy. Or it may start to peel.

How long does it take for radiation side effects to show up?

Late side effects from radiation therapy take months and sometimes years to show up and usually don’t go away. But not everyone will have them. These problems happen when radiation damages your body. For example, scar tissue can affect the way your lungs or your heart works.

How does radiation kill cancer?

Radioembolization. Cancer Caused by Radiation Therapy. Radiation therapy treats cancer by using high-energy waves to kill tumor cells. The goal is to destroy or damage the cancer without hurting too many healthy cells. This treatment can cause side effects, but they’re different for everyone. The ones you have depend on the type ...

How to help with fatigue from cancer?

Work with a counselor or take a class at your cancer treatment center to learn ways to conserve energy, reduce stress, and keep yourself from focusing on the fatigue.

Can radiation therapy make you tired?

The fatigue you feel from cancer and radiation therapy is different from other times you may have felt tired. It’s an exhaustion that doesn’t get better with rest and can keep you from doing the things you normally do, like going to work or spending time with family and friends.

Can radiation cause appetite loss?

Radiation therapy to the head, neck, or parts of the digestive system can make you lose your appetite. But it's important to keep eating a healthy diet while you’re having treatment to keep your body strong.

What causes the side effects of radiation therapy?

Radiation can destroy or harm healthy tissues during treatment. This may cause side effects to happen anywhere in the body where radiation therapy is given. Medicine may be given to protect healthy tissue and prevent side effects of radiation therapy.

How are side effects of radiation therapy diagnosed and treated?

Radiation therapy may prevent the bone marrow from making red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. This may cause low blood counts. Low blood counts are diagnosed with a blood test.

How to deal with radiation side effects?

Talk to your healthcare provider if you feel angry, scared, helpless, depressed, or frustrated. There are medicines and therapies that can help you manage these side effects. Join a support group or talk to others that have been through radiation therapy.

What is the treatment for radiation?

You may be given medicine to treat nausea, vomiting, indigestion, or diarrhea. You may also be given medicine to treat problems in the mouth, or pain in the area that receives radiation. Lotions, ointments, or creams may be given to treat skin problems caused by radiation therapy.

What is the purpose of liquids in radiation?

Liquids may prevent dehydration caused by the side effects of radiation. You may need an oral rehydration solution (ORS). An ORS contains water, salts, and sugar that are needed to replace lost body fluids. Ask what kind of ORS to use, how much to drink, and where to get it.

How to treat mouth sores from radiation?

Use medicines as directed to decrease pain caused by mouth sores, and relieve dryness. Do not smoke or use products with nicotine. Drink plenty of liquids as directed. Ask how much liquid to drink each day and which liquids are best for you . Liquids may prevent dehydration caused by the side effects of radiation.

Can radiation therapy cause low blood count?

Your healthcare provider will ask you about your symptoms and decide if they are side effects of radiation therapy. Radiation therapy may prevent the bone marrow from making red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. This may cause low blood counts. Low blood counts are diagnosed with a blood test.

How long does it take for side effects to go away after radiation?

Once radiation therapy ends, short-term side effects will mostly go away within 2 weeks [ 9 ]. Let your radiation oncologist or nurse know how the sessions are making you feel. They may be able to recommend creams or other interventions ...

How long does fatigue last after radiation?

Fatigue. Fatigue is common during radiation therapy and may last for several weeks after treatment ends. Fatigue is mainly a short-term problem, but for some, it can persist [ 10-11 ]. You may feel like you don’t have any energy and may feel tired all of the time. Resting may not help.

What to do if you have anxiety about radiation?

Your provider may be able to suggest a hospital social worker, patient navigator, psychologist or support group to help ease anxiety related to radiation therapy (or breast cancer).

What side of the chest does radiation affect?

If radiation therapy is given to the left side of the chest, heart problems may develop years later.

What cancers are linked to radiation?

The most common cancers linked to radiation therapy are sarcomas (cancers of the connective tissue) [ 20-22 ]. For women who are long-term smokers, radiation therapy may also increase the risk of lung cancer [ 19 ].

Where is the most common area of radiation?

It’s most common in the skin folds and the underside of the breast. If a moist reaction occurs, let your radiation team know. They can give you creams and pads to make the area more comfortable until it heals. Learn more about easing pain related to radiation therapy. Learn about long-term skin changes due to radiation therapy .

Can radiation cause lymphedema?

People who have radiation therapy to the lymph nodes in the collarbone or underarm area (axillary nodes) or who have axillary nodes removed may develop lymphedema. Lymphedema is a condition in which fluid collects in the arm, causing it to swell. Swelling may also occur in the breast, chest or back.

What are the side effects of radiation?

There are a few main side effects of radiation therapy. Most symptoms, like hair loss, are only experienced in the area of the body being irradiated. Others, like fatigue, are more common regardless of the area being treated. Knowing as much as possible about the different side effects and what to expect may help put patients more in control and at ease.

How long will side effects from radiation last?

The side effects of radiation therapy may depend on the dose and length of treatment. Most patients see side effects subside within a few months post-treatment, but no two people are the same. The American Cancer Society (ACS) has developed a six-week external radiation therapy side effects worksheet to help patients track symptoms. The side effects of radiation therapy are sometimes difficult to identify, especially since they can be subtle in the early days of treatment. That's why it's important to discuss any questions or concerns with your radiation oncologist or nurse as soon as you experience them.

What is the best treatment for cancer?

For cancer, doctors may recommend radiation therapy, a treatment that attacks cancer cells using high-energy sources such as electron beams, gamma rays or X-rays. It’s regularly used for both early-stage and advanced-stage cancers and often performed in conjunction with other cancer treatments.

What happens to the brain after radiation?

Brain: After radiation therapy of the brain, patients may experience headaches or trouble with memory and speech. Some side effects of the brain depend on the area being targeted. Some side effects may occur at different times: some may present themselves quickly, and others may not show up until one to two years after treatment. Radiation may cause the brain to swell, which may trigger some of these side effects. Medications may help prevent brain swelling. Patients experiencing any of these side effects should immediately alert their doctor.

Can radiation cause skin irritation?

Skin irritation: Radiation therapy may cause dry skin and itchiness. In other cases, the skin may become sensitive to sunlight and become red.

Does radiation therapy affect cancer cells?

Radiation therapy is mainly confined to the cancerous tumor—or targeted areas of treatment—and not the surrounding areas. Still, considering that radiation therapy uses high levels of radioactivity to fight cancer cells, it may also damage nearby healthy cells and tissues. This may trigger troublesome reactions—some short-term and some long-lasting.

Is radiation a localized therapy?

Considering that radiation is a localized therapy, side effects typically differ depending on the part of the body being treated. Below, find a few more side effects of radiation, specific to the area of treatment.

How does radiation damage cells?

Radiation therapy damages cells by destroying the genetic material that controls how cells grow and divide. While both healthy and cancerous cells are damaged by radiation therapy, the goal of radiation therapy is to destroy as few normal, healthy cells as possible.

Why do people get radiation therapy?

Why it's done. More than half of all people with cancer receive radiation therapy as part of their cancer treatment. Doctors use radiation therapy to treat just about every type of cancer. Radiation therapy is also useful in treating some noncancerous (benign) tumors.

What is the treatment for cancer?

Radiation therapy. External beam radiation uses high-powered beams of energy to kill cancer cells. Beams of radiation are precisely aimed at the cancer using a machine that moves around your body. Radiation therapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses beams of intense energy to kill cancer cells. Radiation therapy most often uses X-rays, but ...

What type of radiation is used in X-rays?

The term "radiation therapy" most often refers to external beam radiation therapy. During this type of radiation, the high-energy beams come from a machine outside of your body that aims the beams at a precise point on your body.

What is external beam radiation therapy?

During external beam radiation therapy, you're positioned on a table and a large machine moves around you sending beams of radiation into precise points in your body.

What is the purpose of radiation beams?

The precise dose and focus of radiation beams used in your treatment is carefully planned to maximize the radiation to your cancer cells and minimize the harm to surrounding healthy tissue.

How long does it take for cancer to respond to radiation?

In some cases, your cancer may respond to treatment right away. In other cases, it may take weeks or months for your cancer to respond.