Radiation side effects: Symptoms and management

 Radiation therapy, or radiotherapy, is a treatment that uses high doses of radiation to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors.

Though the radiation is targeted, it affects healthy cells as well as cancerous ones. For this reason, people undergoing radiation therapy (RT) can develop short- and long-term side effects during and after treatment.

This article describes common side effects of RT and provides tips for management and care.

Types of RT

There are two types of RT: external beam radiation and internal radiation.

External beam radiation

This involves a machine sending beams of radiation to specific parts of the body.

The beams are lower-energy, and they intersect at the targeted areas, so that these receive higher doses of radiation. For this reason, cancer specialists, called oncologists, refer to the treatment as “localized.”

Internal radiation

Internal radiation kills cancer cells from inside the body.

This involves an oncologist either implanting solid radioactive material at the site of the tumor or giving the person liquid drugs made up of a radioactive substance. These can be taken orally or injected.

A solid source of radiation acts as a localized treatment. Radioactive beads, for example, are a common treatment for prostate cancer.

A liquid radiation source acts as a systemic treatment because it travels throughout the body.

Radiation side effects

RT effectively destroys cancer cells, but it also damages healthy cells. This can cause adverse effects during and after treatment. In some cases, a person may develop new side effects several months after the treatment ends.

The specific adverse effects can depend on the type of RT and the part of the body receiving the treatment.

Early side effects

According to the American Cancer Society, fatigue and skin changes are the most common early side effects of RT.

Examples of these skin changes include:

• dryness
• color changes, such as redness in some people
• blistering
• peeling
• pain or tenderness
• hair loss

Other early side effects of RT can include:

• swelling or tenderness at the treatment site
• mouth sores
• a sore throat
• difficulty swallowing
• headaches
• vision changes
• nausea and vomiting
• bladder or bowel changes
• sexual dysfunction

Late side effects

These side effects can appear 6 months or longer after finishing RT and can include:

• dry mouth and mouth sores
• joint problems
• thyroid problems
• lymphedema, which is swelling in the arms or legs
• infertility
• secondary cancers

Source: Medical News Today