What are the side effects of radiation therapy?
Many patients have no side effects at all, but some patients do have side effects associated with the treatment area. Side effects vary from patient to patient and will depend mostly on the treatment dose, the part of the body that is treated and the patient’s general health before treatment. The most common side effects are modest fatigue and some skin redness in the treatment area. Other side effects usually are related to the treatment of specific areas, such as hair loss following radiation treatment to the head. Although unpleasant, most side effects are not serious and can be controlled with medication or diet. An exception to this is high dose radiation to the inside of the mouth and throat. Some patients with high dose radiation to these areas can have permanent significant swallowing and/or pain problems.
We make special efforts to minimize the radiation dose that the normal tissues in the vicinity of your child’s tumor receive, however, they will be exposed to some radiation. The potential side effects depend on your child’s age, the area of his/her body that is receiving radiation, the radiation dose and whether your child also is receiving or received chemotherapy. The pediatric radiation oncologist, therapists, and nurses will monitor your child closely during and after his/her radiation therapy course and recommend medications and strategies to prevent and manage side effects.
Radiation therapy will cause side effects only to those areas directly in the path of the beam or located in the treatment field. These side effects are specific to the area of the body being treated and may vary greatly from person to person. The side effects a person may experience will also vary depending upon the dose received and the size of the field being treated.
Many patients have no side effects at all, but some patients do have side effects associated with the treatment area. Side effects vary from patient to patient and will depend mostly on the treatment dose, the part of the body that is treated and the patient’s general health before treatment. The most common side effects are modest fatigue and some skin redness in the treatment area. Other side effects usually are related to the treatment of specific areas, such as hair loss following radiation treatment to the head. Although unpleasant, most side effects are not serious and can be controlled with medication or diet. An exception to this is high dose radiation to the inside of the mouth and throat. Some patients with high dose radiation to these areas can have permanent significant swallowing and/or pain problems. When patients receive chemotherapy in addition to radiation therapy most of the side effects they experience are usually related to the chemotherapy and not the radiation the
The most common side effects are fatigue, skin changes, and some loss of appetite. Other side effects usually are related to the treatment of specific areas, such as hair loss following radiation treatment to the head. Fortunately, most side effects will go away in time and you can reduce the discomfort they cause. If you have a reaction that is particularly severe, the doctor may prescribe a break in your treatments or change the kind of treatment you’re receiving. It is usually not desirable to interrupt a course of radiation therapy because the delay may decrease the treatment’s effectiveness. Although unpleasant, most side effects are not serious and can be controlled with medication or diet. Tell your doctor, nurse, or radiation therapist about any side effects you notice so that they can help you treat the problems.
