Side effects of radiation therapy

Radiation therapy is the term for treatment types that use radiation to destroy or shrink cancer cells and tumors. The two main types of The type of radiation that a doctor recommends will depend on the type of cancer, the size and location of the Radiation therapy may help meet different treatment goals. For instance, it may enhance the effectiveness of surgery, help prevent the spread of cancer, or relieve symptoms of advanced cancer. This article discusses the different types of radiation therapy, including how they work and the side effects and risks. It also explains what a person can expect from radiation therapy and the likely outcome. Share on Pinterest praetorianphoto/Getty Images Radiation therapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses high energy beams to destroy cancer cells and shrink tumors. The Radiation damages genetic material called DNA inside of cancer cells. If the cancer cell cannot repair the DNA, the cell will not be able to produce new cells and may die. The radiation may injure noncancerous cells, but most are able to recover, according to the A person’s treatment team will carefully plan radiation therapy to minimize damage to normal tissues and organs. There are two broad types of radiation therapy that doctors use to treat cancers: internal and external. External beam radiation External beam radiation is the External means that the energy beams come from a machine outside of the body. A healthcare professional precisely aims the beams, which pe...

This information will help you get ready for radiation therapy to your pelvis, including what to expect before, during, and after your treatment. You will also learn about side effects and how to care for yourself during your treatment. Read through this resource before you start radiation therapy. Use it as a reference in the days leading up to your treatments so that you can prepare as much as possible. Bring it with you for your simulation appointment and all future appointments with your radiation oncologist so that you and your healthcare team can refer to it. Back to top About radiation therapy Radiation therapy uses high-energy beams to treat cancer. It works by damaging the cancer cells and making it hard for them to reproduce. Your body is then naturally able to get rid of these damaged cancer cells. Radiation therapy also affects normal cells. However, your normal cells are able to repair themselves in a way that cancer cells can’t. During treatment, a machine will aim beams of radiation directly to the tumor. The beam passes through your body and destroys cancer cells in its path. You won’t see or feel the radiation. Radiation therapy takes time to work. It takes days or weeks of treatment before cancer cells start to die. They will keep dying for weeks or months after treatment ends. Before you start your treatment, you will have treatment planning appointments. These include a simulation and a set-up procedure. Radiation therapy and fertility You must use cont...

This information will help you get ready for radiation therapy to your lymph nodes at MSK. It will help you know what to expect before, during, and after your treatment. It will also help you learn about side effects and how to care for yourself during treatment. Read through this resource before you start radiation therapy. Use it as a reference in the days leading up to your treatments so you can prepare as much as possible. Bring this resource to your simulation appointment and all future appointments with your radiation oncologist. You and your radiation therapy team will refer to it throughout your treatment. Back to top About radiation therapy Radiation therapy uses high-energy beams to treat cancer. It works by damaging the cancer cells and making it hard for them to reproduce. Your body is then naturally able to get rid of the damaged cancer cells. Radiation therapy also affects normal cells. However, your normal cells are able to repair themselves in a way that cancer cells can’t. You will have a type of radiation therapy called external beam radiation. During your treatments, a machine will aim beams of radiation directly at the tumor. The beams will pass through your body and destroy cancer cells in their path. You won’t see or feel the radiation. Radiation therapy takes time to work. It takes days or weeks of treatment before cancer cells start to die. They will keep dying for weeks or months after treatment ends. About radiation therapy to your lymph nodes Man...

Diagnosis If it's suspected that you have brain metastases, your doctor may recommend a number of tests and procedures. • A neurological exam. A neurological exam may include, among other things, checking your vision, hearing, balance, coordination, strength and reflexes. Difficulty in one or more areas may provide clues about the part of your brain that could be affected by a brain tumor. • Imaging tests. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is commonly used to help diagnose brain metastases. A dye may be injected through a vein in your arm during your MRI study. A number of specialized MRI scan components — including functional MRI, perfusion MRI and magnetic resonance spectroscopy — may help your doctor evaluate the tumor and plan treatment. Other imaging tests may include computerized tomography (CT) and positron emission tomography (PET). For example, if the primary tumor causing your brain metastases is unknown, you might have a chest CT scan to look for lung cancer. • Collecting and testing a sample of abnormal tissue (biopsy). A biopsy can be performed as part of an operation to remove a brain tumor, or it can be performed using a needle. The biopsy sample is then viewed under a microscope to determine if it is cancerous (malignant) or noncancerous (benign) and whether the cells are metastatic cancer or from a primary tumor. This information is critical to establish a diagnosis and a prognosis and to guide treatment. Treatment Treatment for brain metastases can help ea...

Radiation therapy treats It is given over a certain time period; it can be given around the time of surgery or chemotherapy. It can also be used to ease pain caused by the tumor. This treatment can cause side effects, but they're different for everyone. The ones you have depend on the type of radiation you get, how much you get, the part of your body that gets treatment, and how healthy you are overall. There's no way to predict how radiation will affect you. You may have few or only mild side effects from your treatment; someone else may have a lot of problems or very severe ones. When you get radiation therapy, you'll work with a doctor who specializes in this type of medicine. It's important to talk with them about how the treatment might make you feel and what you can do to feel better. If the therapy makes you uncomfortable, speak up. If you keep your health team informed, they can help you get through treatment. How Soon Might I Have Side Effects From Radiation Therapy? There are two kinds of radiation side effects: early and late. Early side effects, such as The most common early side effects are fatigue and skin problems. You might get others, such as How Can I Handle Fatigue? The fatigue you feel from cancer and radiation therapy is different from other times you may have felt tired. It’s a distressing, persistent exhaustion that doesn’t get better with rest and can keep you from doing the things you normally do, like going to work or spending time with family and...