What are the side effects of radiation?
The most common side effect is loss of normal pituitary function. This may occur within a year or many years after treatment. One study reported that 50% of patients treated with conventional radiation developed deficiency of one or more pituitary hormones within 2 years of treatment. Although development of a pituitary hormone deficiency is not desirable, hormone replacement therapy is available. Every patient treated with radiation, which affects the pituitary or hypothalamus is at risk for the development of loss of pituitary function. Therefore, periodic blood tests are required. An uncommon side effect is damage to vision. In small number of patients, another type tumor, which may be malignant, may develop in the area where radiation was given. Patients receiving conventional radiation may also be at increased for stroke. The risk associated with newer forms of radiation is not yet known. These risks must be weighed against the risk of tumor re-growth.
The most common side effect is loss of normal pituitary function. This may occur within a year or many years after treatment. One study reported that 50% of patients treated with conventional radiation developed deficiency of one or more pituitary hormones within 2 years of treatment. Although development of a pituitary hormone deficiency is not desirable, hormone replacement therapy is available. Every patient treated with radiation, which affects the pituitary or hypothalamus is at risk for the development of loss of pituitary function. Therefore, periodic blood tests are required. An uncommon side effect is damage to vision. In small number of patients, another type tumor, which may be malignant, may develop in the area where radiation was given. Patients receiving conventional radiation may also be at increased for stroke. The risk associated with newer forms of radiation is not yet known. These risks must be weighed against the risk of tumor re-growth.
The most common side effect is loss of pituitary function. This may occur within a year or many years after treatment. One study reported that 50% of patients treated with conventional radiation developed deficiency of one or more pituitary hormones within 2 years of treatment. Although development of a pituitary hormone deficiency is not desirable, hormone replacement therapy is available. An uncommon side effect is damage to vision. These risks must be weighed against the risk of tumor re-growth.
The most common side effect is loss of pituitary function. This may occur within a year or many years after treatment. One study reported that 50% of patients treated with conventional radiation developed deficiency of one or more pituitary hormones within 2 years of treatment. Although development of a pituitary hormone deficiency is not desirable, hormone replacement therapy is available. An uncommon side effect is damage to vision. These risks must be weighed against the risk of tumor re-growth. The answer to this question about pituitary tumors was developed by Mary Lee Vance, M.D., Professor of Medicine and Neurosurgery at the University of Virginia. Dr. Vance is an endocrinologist specializing in the treatment of pituitary diseases.
The side effects often depend on the area of the body which is being irradiated, as well as the over-all time frame of the treatment, and the dose given at each treatment. Patients often try to compare side effects of their treatment in the waiting room, however they are not aware that they may be receiving very different treatments even if ostensibly for the same conditions. No two patients are exactly alike and therefore the treatment must be tailored to their particular constellation of disease stage, location, age, and multiple other associated factors. Common side effects of radiation therapy could include skin dryness and peeling, sometimes even redness, like you might get with a bad sunburn. Often the patients feel tired or listless. Blood counts may go down especially if chemotherapy is also being given or if a large area is being treated. However, some patients breeze through the treatment with few if any side effects.
