Treatment Side Effects
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Radiation Therapy side effects can be grouped into immediate effects which occur within 2 months after radiation therapy is given and late effects that occur 6 or more months after radiation therapy. Disclaimer reminder: the discussion here is a summary review and not comprehensive so readers are encouraged to
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/coping/radiation-therapy-and-you/page6
- Early Effects
Let’s begin by first reviewing immediate radiation therapy side effects that occur within 2 months after radiation therapy. Most patients experience skin changes as well as fatigue. Other side effects depend on the treatment site or body part being treated. These additional side effects may include: diarrhea, hair loss, mouth problems & swallowing issues, nausea & vomiting, sexual changes, as well as urinary & bladder changes.
Skin Changes
Skin changes are due to radiation damaging health skin cells in the treatment area. Skin changes may include dryness, pruritus (itching), sunburn as well as peeling. Patients need to take special care of their skin during radiation therapy. This special care means being gentle with their skin, not washing off marks, as well as using mild skin soap and lukewarm water. Patients should avoid using deodorants which contain aluminum.
Fatigue
Fatigue means being tired or weak. Fatigue is due to several radiation therapy factors among them anemia. Other fatigue factors include medications that the patient may be taking, level of activity, infection, as well as emotional factors. Fatigue is managed in several ways. Adequate rest and sleep (of 8 hours) are needed along with moderate exercise like a 15 to 30 minute walk. A patient’s work day may need to be modified to match the energy available.
There are other immediate side effects. Depending on the body site being treated patients may also have: diarrhea, hair loss, mouth problems, trouble swallowing, nausea & vomiting, sexual changes, swelling, as well as urinary and bladder changes. Most these side effects fade away after 2 months after radiation therapy.
- Diarrhea
Diarrhea is defined as frequent soft, loose or watery bowel movements. Diarrhea may occur at any time during radiation therapy. Diarrhea occurs due to irradiation to the abdomen and /or pelvis. The shaded area in the image below represents susceptible areas.
Diarrhea occurs since radiation harms healthy cells in in both the small as well as large intestines. Management is based on diet modification. Patients are advised to consume plenty of clear fluids as well as many small meals. With regard to meals, it is best if patients avoid dairy products, oily or fried foods, as well as spicy foods, A liquid and small portion bland food diet is advised for management of diarrhea.
Hair Loss
The medical term for hair loss is alopecia. Hair loss occurs in areas irradiated since radiation damages rapidly growing cells like hair roots. Hair loss tends to occur some 2-3 weeks after the onset of radiation therapy. The use of hair products, drying as well as curling is discouraged. Common hair interventions are shaving the head as well as the use of wigs. Depending on the dose received a patient’s hair may never grow back or may begin to reappear some 3 to 6 months after irradiation. The new hair growth can be different than hair present prior to radiation therapy.
Mouth Problems & Trouble Swallowing
Treatment to the head and neck can cause mouth problems and trouble swallowing. Radiation therapy kills as well as damages healthy cells in the mouth, airways, and lung. This radiation damage may extend to the parotid glands that make saliva and the moist linings of the mouth, airway, and lungs. The shaded areas in the images below represent susceptible areas.
Common problems include mouth sores or ulcers, infections, xerostomia, tooth loss and / or tooth decay, thick saliva, stiffness, as well as loss of taste. Swallowing troubles tend to appear some 2 to 3 weeks after the onset of radiation and tend to resolves some 4 to 6 weeks after treatment. Throat changes may relate to throat soreness as well as trouble swallowing due to irradiation of the epiglottis. Mouth sores tend to go away after radiation therapy treatment. Taste issues as well as xerostomia may resolve after several months or may remain permanent. Proactive management involves the patient visiting a dentist and/or dietician prior to treatment. Patients need to practice good oral cleaning hygiene, keep their mouths moist, eat small meals avoiding sugars, tobacco, & alcohol, engage in regular jaw exercise, as well as regularly following up with dentists and/ or dieticians.
Nausea & Vomiting
Radiation therapy to portions of the small intestine, large intestine, colon, as well as parts of the brain can cause nausea and vomiting. Nausea is feeling sick to your stomach while vomiting involves dry heaves and throwing up. The shaded area in the image below represents susceptible areas.
Of course, the onset & severity of nausea as well as vomiting depends on the dose as well as areas irradiated. Nausea and vomiting tend to occur some 30 minutes to hours after radiation therapy. Management for nausea and vomiting involves having patients adopt a bland foods low residual diet. The consumption of 5 to 6 smaller snacks or meals rather than 3 larger meals is suggested. Patients are encouraged to plan the times of meals to avoiding consumption before as well as after proximity to treatment times.
Sexual Changes
Sexual changes including fertility changes may take place after radiation therapy to the pelvis. Pelvic radiation may cause tissue scaring based on the dose as well as location of irradiation. Changes also include hormonal changes and are different for men and women. For men, sexual changes may mean erectile dysfunction and the inability to father children. For women, sexual changes may mean uncomfortable sex, vaginal dryness, vaginal stenosis, menopause, as well as the inability to bear children. The shaded areas in the images below represent susceptible areas.
Most people would like to maintain the same sexual life they had before undergoing radiation therapy. Management includes patient education. The objectives of patient education are: to understand side effects (fertility, impotence, and sex) prior to therapy, couple counseling, as well as planning. An honest discussion between a patient and their partner(s) about radiation therapy consequences is encouraged. In applicable cases a patient’s sperm or eggs can be banked for later use ahead of radiation therapy.
Urinary & Bladder Changes
Urinary and Bladder changes may take place after radiation therapy to the pelvis. Pelvic radiation may cause tissue cystitis (inflammation), ulcers, and infection based on the dose as well as location of irradiation. Issues may include painful urination, difficult emptying the bladder, incontinence, blood in the urine, as well as spasms. The shaded area in the image below represents susceptible areas.
Symptoms may begin some 3 to 5 weeks after the onset of radiation therapy and tends to resolve some 2 to 8 weeks after the end of treatment. Management stresses diet counseling. Patient are advised to drink 6 to 8 glasses of water and consume a diet free of alcohol, caffeine, spices, as well as tobacco. In cases of painful urination, infection, blood in urine, as well as spasms medications are prescribed for the management of symptoms.
- Late Effects
Late side effects begin 6 months or more after radiation therapy is over. These late side effects depend on the body site treated as well as the radiation dose received. Some late side effects are: brain changes, lymphedema, infertility, xerostomia, joint problems, as well as secondary cancer. We will discuss three late side effects; namely, brain changes, lymphedema and joint problems.
Brain Changes
When the brain receives radiation therapy changes may occur some months to years after therapy. Brain cells dying and forming a mass is called brain necrosis. Some late brain effects may be memory loss, visual changes, trouble thinking, as well as personality changes. Management of brain necrosis includes counseling, medications, as well as surgery.
Lymphedema
Lymphedema is the build-up of lymph fluids which results in swelling examples like arm swelling or leg swelling. Lymphedema occurs due to the removal of lymph nodes during surgery and / or the damage of lymph nodes by radiation. Limb heaviness, swelling, and redness are early signs of lymphedema. Management for lymphedema prioritizes physical activity over a sedentary lifestyle. Compression wraps as well as care for the extremity in terms of clothing to manage environment exposure is recommended.
Joint Problems
Weakness as well as scar tissue may result from radiation therapy to joints. The onset of joint problems may occur some months after radiation therapy. Stiffness on movement as well as limited joint range of motion may be signs of joint problems. Management takes the forms of: exercise and physical therapy.
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