Side Effects of Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy is a focalized treatment which is targeted towards a particular area of the body. It includes exposure of the body's affected area to a laser or radiation, which dissolves or removes the disorder without the need for surgery. Along with the benefits, it also brings with it some disadvantages which cause serious damage to the body. The side effects are related to that portion of the body which is being treated upon. Patients won't suffer from nausea or vomiting unless the abdomen is one of the area which is being treated upon, or the loss of scalp hair won't occur unless the patients head is being exposed to radiation.

Generally, the side effects occur in the span of 2-3 weeks after the radiation therapy. If one experiences side effects after the treatment, he needs to inform the doctor about it, so that it can be treated accordingly. The type and degree of the side effects may differ from patient to patient, and most of the times patients discover that the side effects have more effect at the end of the therapy. They may reduce or even disappear after the therapy is over. When a particular area of the body is treated by radiation, there may be an irritation of the tissues which cause these side effects. The radiation oncologist may inform you about the long-lasting side effects which can probably occur after the therapy is completed.

Common Side Effects of Radiation Therapy

Loss of Appetite: A person being treated may suffer from loss of appetite which can lead to nutritional inadequacies. One needs to eat at regular intervals instead of only consuming three repasts a day. Eating fruits and vegetables, which are rich is vitamins also helps the body produce the needed energy. The appetite will naturally increase as the therapy is complete. If one is suffering from cancer and is being treated on his head, neck, or lung, insufficient production of saliva can be a problem. However, there are some medications to counter such problems, for which the doctor's consultation is necessary.

Skin Problems: If the skin is exposed to radiation, it may become red, sunburned, and irritated. The skin is very sensitive, so you may need to ask the doctor or nurse for special creams that would make the skin normal. Perfumes, deodorants, body lotions, tight-fitting clothes, etc., should be avoided by the patient when his treatment is underway. During the treatment, one also should not expose the treated skin to direct sunlight, as this may end up causing many skin complications. The skin will become normal by itself after the treatment is over, as tissues end up repairing themselves.

Fatigue: The patients who are being treated by radiation treatment experience some level of fatigue, which is a feeling of being very tired. One should have sufficient uninterrupted sleep at night and a short nap during the day to generate and maintain ample energy, which will help in doing the daily work.

Hair Loss: A person undergoing radiation therapy has a possibility of suffering from hair loss. However, hair loss would occur in only those areas which are exposed to radiation. If one is being treated on the pelvis, he won't lose hair on his head, but if the head or neck is being treated for cancer, there is a very high possibility of losing hair on the head. However, the hair grows back gradually after the radiation therapy is completed.

Low Immunity to Diseases: Radiation can decrease the quantity of White Blood Cells (WBC) in the blood, resulting in decrease in the immunity level. This can lead to possibilities of being infected by parasites and viruses which are prevented by the WBCs. If needed, the treatment may be modified depending on the level of WBCs in the body of the patient.

Besides the above discussed effects, there are many more side effects which need to be discussed with the doctor in detail before the treatment commences. Nevertheless, you can get rid of some side effects once the radiation therapy is successfully completed.