Radiation Side Effects

The goal of radiation therapy (also referred to as radiotherapy) is to eliminate cancerous tumors within the body without destroying the surrounding healthy tissue. New developments have led to even more effective forms of radiation therapy, such as three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT), intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), and proton beam therapy. However, undesired side effects may accompany even the most precise therapy. Side effects occur because within the treatment area, radiation therapy affects any rapidly reproducing cells, not just cancer cells, and also may shrink local blood vessels. Side effects caused by scarring can also occur as the body heals. The medical goal of radiation therapy is to minimize side effects while maximizing cancer cell death. Many unwanted symptoms of radiation therapy are controlled or relieved with medications, diet, and stretching/exercise, and many problems disappear when treatments are completed.

Common Side Effects of Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy uses directed and invisible packets of energy to treat cancer. Radiation therapy can be thought of as a localized, invisible, and intense “sunbeam” focused on your cancer. Not surprisingly, a common side effect of radiation treatment is a sunburn-type reaction in the skin through which the radiation beam passes. Other common side effects include fatigue (tiredness) and loss of appetite.

For some people, radiation therapy causes little or no side effects. For others, the side effects are more severe. The side effects of radiation therapy vary from person to person and also with the type and location of cancer, treatment dose, and the individual's general health.

Side effects, if experienced, often begin by the second or third week of treatment and may last for several weeks after the final radiation treatment, although there is significant variation depending upon the type of side effect. Occasionally, long-term side effects occur. These include infections, impotence (the inability to achieve or maintain an erection), infertility (the inability to become pregnant or conceive a child), and secondary cancers. These problems usually do not arise for months or even years after radiation therapy, but they are more likely to be permanent and serious. Your radiation oncologist and radiation oncology nurse specializes in radiation therapy and will work with you to ease or prevent many of these side effects.

Misconceptions About Radiation Therapy

The following are misconceptions about radiation therapy and comments about actual facts:

• Myth: Radiation therapy is painful.
  Fact: The treatments are usually short, painless, and quiet, except for the noises from the machines.
  
• Myth: All patients experience unpleasant reactions after radiation therapy.
  Fact: Many patients have mild or no side effects. For those that do not experience side effects, these can often be managed with the help of your oncologist.
  
• Myth: Radiation therapy causes people to "glow," and there is a risk of exposing others to radiation.
  Fact: You will not be radioactive following external-beam radiation therapy, although certain precautions need to be followed to reduce exposure to others if you receive internal radiation therapy (brachytherapy or radioactive isotopes).
  
• Myth: Radiation therapy causes baldness.
  Fact: You will not lose your hair except in areas where the radiation is focused.
  
• Myth: Radiation therapy causes infertility.
  Fact: Only radiation therapy aimed at the ovaries or the testicles carries a risk of infertility. It is recommended that you discuss the risk of infertility associated with the treatment of your particular cancer with your doctor.
  
• Myth: Radiation therapy causes cancers later in life.
  Fact: While radiation therapy can contribute to a secondary cancer, the risk is low. The potential benefits versus risks of treatment always must be considered. Talk with your doctor about your individual risk.

Specific Side Effects for Stomach Radiation

Side effects from radiation therapy to the stomach and abdomen include queasiness, nausea, or diarrhea. These symptoms will likely disappear when treatment is completed. Your doctor can prescribe medications for these side effects, and changes to your diet can also reduce your discomfort.