How long do the side effects of radiation therapy usually last?
Common side effects of radiation therapy such as breast soreness, swelling, reddening of the breast skin, a feeling of heaviness in the breast, fatigue, and loss of appetite usually go away within four to six weeks after radiation begins. Other less common side effects of radiation such as slight darkening of the breast skin, enlargement of the breast skin pores, increased or decreased sensitivity of the breast skin, a thickening of the breast skin or tissue, or a change in size of the breast tend to last several months.
