Radiation therapy is widely used in recent times to treat cancerous diseases, as it works to destroy cancer cells, but it also causes some side effects and complications.
Radiation therapy targets a specific area of the body represented by the area of cancer cells gathering, however, it can cause damage to healthy cells and tissues near the treatment area, according to a report published by the “Only My Health” medical website.
Side effects depend on the type of cancer, the target area, the dose of radiation therapy, your general body health, and many other factors.
The side effects usually begin to appear during the second or third week of treatment, as some suffer from mild side effects and can go about their daily lives without any intervention, on the other hand, others suffer from serious effects that limit their ability to do many things.
But in general, side effects are often short-lived and can be easily treated by experts, and most side effects go away within a month or two after receiving radiotherapy.
Some of the side effects and complications include:
Skin problems:
When people receive radiation therapy regularly, their skin cells do not get enough time to recover between treatments, and skin problems only occur in that part of the body that is exposed to radiation, and some common skin problems include dryness, redness, itching, peeling, sores, and swelling, and the skin color can change as well. .
Fatigue and weakness:
Feeling of physical, mental and emotional fatigue is very common in people with cancer, and it happens a lot with radiation therapy, as some people begin to feel tired after a week of radiotherapy, because this treatment harms healthy cells as well as cancer cells, and fatigue and weakness worsen with the continuation of the treatment.
Hair loss:
Hair loss is also a common side effect of radiation therapy just like chemotherapy to treat cancer, and these side effects mostly occur if the radiation treatment is directed to the head or neck, and the hair may become weak in the area being treated, but the hair loss is temporary and occurs. New hair growth within a few weeks after the completion of the treatment process.
Mouth and throat changes:
Mouth and throat changes also often occur if radiation therapy is directed at the head, chest, and neck.Radiation not only kills cancer cells, but may also harm healthy cells in the saliva-producing glands and the moist lining of the mouth.Mouth and throat problems include mouth ulcers, tooth decay and dry mouth. And gum infection and loss of sense of taste.
Nausea and vomiting:
Nausea and vomiting can occur after receiving radiotherapy to the stomach, small intestine, colon, or some areas of the brain, and the chances of developing nausea and vomiting depend on the amount of radiation you are exposed to, the size of the treatment area, and whether or not you are undergoing chemotherapy as well.