what are the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation treatment

Treatment areas and possible side effects

Part of the body being treated	Possible side effects
Brain	Fatigue Hair loss Memory or concentratio ...
Breast	Fatigue Hair loss Skin changes Swelling ...
Chest	Fatigue Hair loss Skin changes Throat pr ...
Head and Neck	Fatigue Hair loss Mouth problems Skin ch ...

Apr 15 2022

Full Answer

Why does chemotherapy often have side effects?

7 rows · Radiation therapy has side effects because it not only kills or slows the growth of cancer ...

What are the long term side effects of chemotherapy?

Jan 09, 2014 · Hair loss and nausea are probably the most commonly feared side effects of chemotherapy and radiation. However, patients undergoing treatment for cancer often suffer from compromised immune function, low blood cell counts, lack of appetite, poor energy, weight loss, digestive disturbances, pain, anxiety and depression as well.

Which was worse for You, chemo or radiation?

Sep 16, 2021 · Mucositis is a common side effect of chemotherapy, local radiation, and bone marrow transplant, and is often the dose-limiting side effect for treatment. Mucositis involves inflammation and ulceration of the mucosal lining in the oral cavity, which causes pain, discomfort, and difficulty eating and swallowing, increasing the risk for hospitalization.

What is the difference between chemotherapy and radiation therapy?

curing a cancer, nor too much radiation with the risk of such complications as pulmonary fibrosis, bowel wall injury, and cerebral radionecrosis. Neuropathy, a problem that sometimes occurs with chemotherapy treatment. It is damage to the nerves. It can occur from some chemotherapy drugs used in conventional cancer treatment.

How long does it take to recover from radiation and chemo?

Plan on about two months of recovery time for every one month of treatment, says oncologist. It is your last chemotherapy infusion or radiation treatment.Aug 9, 2017

Which has worse side effects chemotherapy or radiation?

A systemic treatment like chemotherapy or liquid radiation may have more off-target side effects than a local treatment. But local treatments that are administered only to the cancer site, like external beam radiation or solid internal radiation treatment, may have more extreme side effects in that area of the body.Sep 25, 2021

Which is the most common side effect of chemotherapy and 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. Late side effects can take months or even years to develop.Dec 10, 2020

What is the most life threatening side effect of chemotherapy?

Chemotherapy drugs kill cancer cells as well as healthy white blood cells. Since white blood cells are one of the body's main defenses against infection, this means you have a higher risk of getting an infection while your white blood cell count is low.Nov 4, 2015

Is chemo and radiation worth it?

When lung cancer spreads too far to be cured, treatments may still help people live longer and have a better quality of life. Radiation and chemotherapy can shrink tumors and help control symptoms, such as bone pain or blocked airways.Sep 6, 2006

Do tumors grow back after radiation?

Normal cells close to the cancer can also become damaged by radiation, but most recover and go back to working normally. If radiotherapy doesn't kill all of the cancer cells, they will regrow at some point in the future.Jul 6, 2020

How long do side effects of chemo and radiation last?

How long do side effects last? Many side effects go away fairly quickly, but some might take months or even years to go away completely. These are called late effects. Sometimes the side effects can last a lifetime, such as when chemo causes long-term damage to the heart, lungs, kidneys, or reproductive organs.May 1, 2020

What are the worst side effects of radiotherapy?

Treatment areas and possible side effectsPart of the body being treatedPossible side effectsHead and NeckFatigue Hair loss Mouth problems Skin changes Taste changes Throat problems, such as trouble swallowing Less active thyroid gland6 more rows•Jan 11, 2022

What are the signs that chemo is working?

How Can We Tell if Chemotherapy is Working?A lump or tumor involving some lymph nodes can be felt and measured externally by physical examination.Some internal cancer tumors will show up on an x-ray or CT scan and can be measured with a ruler.Blood tests, including those that measure organ function can be performed.More items...

What are the signs that chemo is not working?

Here are some signs that chemotherapy may not be working as well as expected: tumors aren't shrinking. new tumors keep forming. cancer is spreading to new areas.Jul 31, 2019

What should you not do after chemo?

9 things to avoid during chemotherapy treatmentContact with body fluids after treatment. ... Overextending yourself. ... Infections. ... Large meals. ... Raw or undercooked foods. ... Hard, acidic, or spicy foods. ... Frequent or heavy alcohol consumption. ... Smoking.More items...•May 5, 2021

What is the fastest way to recover from chemotherapy?

With your doctor's approval, start slowly and work your way up. The American Cancer Society recommends adult cancer survivors exercise for at least 150 minutes a week, including strength training at least two days a week. As you recover and adjust, you might find that more exercise makes you feel even better.

What is the side effect of bone marrow transplant?

Mucositis is a common side effect of chemotherapy, local radiation, and bone marrow transplant, and is often the dose-limiting side effect for treatment. Mucositis involves inflammation and ulceration of the mucosal lining in the oral cavity, which causes pain, discomfort, and difficulty eating and swallowing, increasing the risk for hospitalization.

What are the treatments for cancer?

These conventional treatments can cause many side effects, only some of which can be treated with medications . Others take time to resolve after the treatment is complete, but some do not resolve at all. The following summarizes the evidence-based integrative therapies and supplements available to prevent and treat the side effects of conventional treatments and symptoms of cancer.

What percentage of cancer patients have a lack of sleep?

Quality of sleep is a major indicator of well-being. Sleep disturbances and lack of quality sleep occur in 30% to 75% of patients with cancer. Consider the following in cancer patients, as these show promise in the research:

Is cancer a difficult diagnosis?

Cancer is a difficult diagnosis to receive and the treatment can be prolonged. Many patients experience depression, anxiety, mental stress, and anguish at the time of diagnosis or during various stages of the treatment. Coping can be very difficult, and at times, medications are necessary.

What is peripheral neuropathy?

Peripheral neuropathy is a potentially debilitating side effect caused by a number of chemotherapeutic agents, especially the platinum-based drugs and taxanes. Therapies that have shown potential benefit for neuropathy include the following:

Can breast cancer be cured?

It can occur months to years after treatment and is a chronic condition which can be managed but not cured. Numerous modalities can prevent lymphedema from occurring or reduce its progression.

Can probiotics cause diarrhea?

Lactose intolerance also increases during chemotherapy. [20] Probiotics may prevent or reduce chemotherapy and radiation induced diarrhea and rarely cause severe adverse effects. [48] [49]

What are the side effects of chemotherapy?

Here are some of the more common side effects caused by chemotherapy: Fatigue. Hair loss. Easy bruising and bleeding.

How long do side effects of chemo last?

These are called late effects. Sometimes the side effects can last a lifetime, such as when chemo causes long-term damage to the heart, lungs, kidneys, or reproductive organs.

Is chemo bad for you?

Side effects are not always as bad as you might expect, but it's normal to worry about this part of cancer treatment. The normal cells most likely to be damaged by chemo are: Some chemo drugs can damage cells in the heart, kidneys, bladder, lungs, and nervous system.

Can chemo help with cancer?

There are also treatments to help relieve side effects. Doctors try to give chemo at levels high enough to treat cancer, while keeping side effects at a minimum. They also try to avoid using multiple drugs that have similar side effects.

Can chemo cause long term side effects?

Some chemo drugs cause long-term side effects, like heart or nerve damage or fertility problems. Still, many people have no long-term problems from chemo. Ask your doctor if the chemo drugs you’re getting have long-term effects. While side effects can be unpleasant, they must be weighed against the need to kill the cancer cells.

Can chemo drugs cause side effects?

These interactions may make side effects worse and affect how well chemo drugs work.

Does aspirin affect platelets?

Taking aspirin or other related drugs can also weaken blood platelets. This isn’t a problem for healthy people with normal platelet counts, but if a person has low platelet counts from chemo, this combination might put them at risk of a serious bleeding problem.

What are the side effects of radiation?

When I set out to create this resource, I knew it had to be in-depth and cover as many side effects as possible. And now I’m thrilled to say that it covers 13 of the most common radiation and chemotherapy side effects: 1 Nausea 2 Vomiting 3 Diarrhea 4 Constipation 5 Weight loss 6 Appetite loss and taste changes 7 Dry mouth 8 Sore mouth and mouth sores 9 Anxiety 10 Fatigue 11 Cold sensitivity 12 Neuropathy 13 Skin irritation

What is Crazy Sexy Cancer Tips?

My first book, Crazy Sexy Cancer Tips, covers everything from choosing an oncologist and building an all-star medical team, to navigating your social life and your kitchen post-diagnosis. It’s a must-have resource for patients, thrivers, survivors and caregivers alike— pick it up here!

What is the Cancer Therapies Toolkit?

The Cancer Therapies Toolkit is the most extensive, in-depth resource on cancer I’ve ever given away for free. Please share it with someone who might benefit from this knowledge. Together we can help people all over the world find some relief.

Does copper help with cancer?

And finally, supplemental copper can result in angiogenesis (new blood vessel formation) to a cancerous lesion. Work with your integrative doc if you’re currently taking supplemental copper, especially if you’re taking an angiogenesis inhibitor as part of your chemotherapy regimen.

Can grapefruit juice be used for chemo?

Steer clear of this one during your treatment as it may decrease the effectiveness of chemo drugs. Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may also be problematic as they can either increase or decrease the absorption of medications taken by mouth. Check with your doc to see if you can include grapefruit in your diet.

Does eating healthy during radiation therapy help?

Next up, I know that some folks in our community are concerned that eating healthy during chemotherapy and radiation therapy will preserve cancer cells. There’s also a misconception that the antioxidants found in fruits and veggies may prevent chemo drugs from effectively killing off cancer cells. Several scientific reviews have found that antioxidant-rich diets not only enhance treatment outcomes, but actually increase survival time and tumor responses if consumed during therapies (more in this article ). So, don’t be afraid to load up on those plant foods—they’ll help you now and will support better health in the long run!

What happens if you get radiation treatment?

After a few weeks, your skin might become dry, flaky, or itchy, or it may peel. This is sometimes called radiation dermatitis.

How long does radiation side effects last?

Remember that the type of radiation side effects you might have depends on the prescribed dose and schedule. Most side effects go away within a few months of ending treatment. Some side effects may continue after treatment ends because it takes time for the healthy cells to recover from radiation. Side effects might limit your ability ...

What is the best treatment for radiation?

One way to reduce side effects is by using radioprotective drugs, but these are only used for certain types of radiation given to certain parts of the body. These drugs are given before radiation treatment to protect certain normal tissues in the treatment area. The one most commonly used today is amifostine. This drug may be used in people with head and neck cancer to reduce the mouth problems caused by radiation therapy.

What are the side effects of brachytherapy?

If your treatment includes brachytherapy (internal radiation implants), you might notice breast tenderness, tightness, redness, and bruising. You may also have some of the same side effects that happen with external radiation treatment.

How long does it take for radiation to cause side effects?

Late side effects can take months or even years to develop. They can occur in any normal tissue in the body that has received radiation. The risk of late side effects depends on the area treated as well as the radiation dose that was used. Careful treatment planning can help avoid serious long-term side effects.

Can radiation therapy cause low blood count?

Rarely, radiation therapy can cause changes in your blood count levels. These blood cells help your body fight infection and prevent bleeding. If your blood tests show low blood counts, your treatment might be stopped for a week or so to allow your blood counts to return to normal. This side effect is more likely if you’re also getting chemotherapy.

How long does it take for brain tumors to show up?

Side effects depend on where the radiation is aimed. Some side effects might show up quickly, but others might not show up until 1 to 2 years after treatment.