Risks
Side effects of radiation therapy greatly depend on which part of your body is being exposed to radiation and how much radiation is used. You may experience no side effects, or you may experience several. Most side effects are temporary, can be controlled and generally disappear over time once treatment has ended.
Common side effects include:
- Hair loss at treatment site (sometimes permanent), skin irritation at treatment site, fatigue
- Head and neck
- Dry mouth, thickened saliva, difficulty swallowing, sore throat, changes in the way food tastes, earaches, sore jaw, nausea
- Chest
- Difficulty swallowing, cough, shortness of breath
- Abdomen
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
- Pelvis
- Diarrhea, bladder irritation, frequent urination, sexual dysfunction
Source: National Cancer Institute, 2007
Ask your doctor about potential side effects, both short and long term that may occur after your treatment.
