after effects of radiation for cancer
This approach is called palliative or supportive care and is an important part of cancer treatment. Common side effects of radiation therapy. Many people who receive radiation therapy experience skin problems, such as dryness, itching, blistering, or peeling. Fortunately, the dose of radiation associated with fibrosis is well known, and the radiation oncologist accounts for this in the planning process to minimize the risk of fibrosis. Stomach and abdomen. Side effects from radiation therapy to the stomach and abdomen may include nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. Your cancer treatment is over, but the treatments that may have saved your life may also continue to cause side effects. As more people are living longer after cancer treatment, more is becoming known about late side effects of cancer treatment. Find out all you can about late effects of cancer treatment and use this information to help manage your health. Cancer survivors might experience late effects of cancer treatment years later. Late effects of cancer treatment can come from any of the three main types of cancer treatment: chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. As newer types of cancer treatment are developed, doctors may find that these treatments also cause late effects in cancer survivors. Cancer survivors: Late effects of cancer treatment. Learn about late and long-term effects of cancer treatment so that you can take more control of your health as a cancer survivor. Living With Cancer Subscribe to our Living With Cancer e-newsletter to stay up to date on cancer topics. Most radiation therapy is administered by a radiation oncologist at a radiation center and usually begins three to four weeks after surgery. The radiation is used to destroy undetectable cancer cells and reduce the risk of cancer recurring in the affected breast. 1 You may wish to discuss with your doctor the possible long-term effects of radiation therapy. 2  For example, radiation therapy to the chest may harm the lung or heart. 3  Also, it can change the size of your breast and the way it looks. 4  If any of these problems occur, your oncology team can tell you how to manage them. Side effects associated with radiation therapy occur because the high doses of radiation used to destroy cancer cells can also damage healthy cells and tissues located near the treatment area. However, major improvements in radiation technology have made it more precise, leading to fewer side effects. Note: There are special situations in which radiation is used for women with metastatic breast cancer experiencing painful bone metastasis. This section however focused on the use of radiation for adjuvant therapy (treatment given after the main treatment to lower the chance of breast cancer returning). Radiation therapy can have side effects, and these vary from person to person. The most common side-effects are: 1  Sunburn-type skin irritation of the targeted area (which may range from mild to intense). 2  Red, dry, tender, or itchy skin. 3  Breast heaviness. 4  Discoloration, redness, or a bruised appearance.
Sunburn-type skin irritation of the targeted area (which may range from mild to intense), Red, dry, tender, or itchy skin, Breast heaviness, Discoloration, redness, or a bruised appearance