What are the common side effects of radiation therapy?
What are the common side effects of radiation therapy?
Specific side effects of radiation therapy that affect parts of the body
- Headaches.
- Hair loss.
- Nausea.
- Vomiting.
- Extreme tiredness (fatigue)
- Hearing loss.
- Skin and scalp changes.
- Trouble with memory and speech.
What are the disadvantages of radiation therapy in treating cancers?
The disadvantages of radiation therapy include:
- damage to surrounding tissues (e.g. lung, heart), depending on how close the area of interest is located to the tumor.
- inability to kill tumor cells that cannot be seen on imaging scans and are therefore not always included on the 3D models (e.g. in near-by lymph nodes.
How long does radiation stay in your body after treatment?
The general effects of radiation therapy like fatigue, nausea, and headaches resolve fairly quickly after treatment. Your body just needs time to process the radiation but can recover within a few weeks.
What should you avoid during radiation?
What Foods Should I Avoid During Radiation? Foods to avoid or reduce during radiation therapy include sodium (salt), added sugars, solid (saturated) fats, and an excess of alcohol. Some salt is needed in all diets. Your doctor or dietitian can recommend how much salt you should consume based on your medical history.
Is radiotherapy worse than chemo?
Since radiation therapy is focused on one area of your body, you may experience fewer side effects than with chemotherapy. However, it may still affect healthy cells in your body.
What are the do’s and don’ts after radiotherapy?
Don’t wear tight clothing over the treatment area. It’s important not to rub, scrub or scratch any sensitive spots. Also avoid putting anything that is very hot or very cold—such as heating pads or ice packs—on your treated skin.
Can you drive yourself home after radiation treatment?
Will I be able to drive after my radiotherapy treatment? Almost all patients are able to drive while receiving radiotherapy treatment. However, with some types of cancer, driving may NOT be recommended due to fatigue or strong pain medication.
What time of day is best for radiation therapy?
New research from Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, to be presented at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2019 in Atlanta, reports that administering radiation treatments in the morning as opposed to later in the day can significantly reduce severity of mucositis and its related …
What are the short term side effects of radiation treatment?
Sore throat
How long does it take to recover from radiation treatment?
The general effects of radiation therapy like fatigue, nausea, and headaches resolve fairly quickly after treatment. Your body just needs time to process the radiation but can recover within a few weeks.
Can radiation cure or cause cancer?
Radiation therapy is used to treat cancer and ease cancer symptoms. When used to treat cancer, radiation therapy can cure cancer, prevent it from returning , or stop or slow its growth . When treatments are used to ease symptoms, they are known as palliative treatments.
How long do you feel side effects of radiation?
Once the radiation therapy is all completed, the inflammation will subside and the side effects will gradually go away over 1 – 2 months. Most patients, but not all, feel like they are back to normal by 6 weeks to 3 months following the end of radiation. Fatigue is one of the few whole body side effect.
