Radiation therapy can cause early and late side effects. Early side effects are those that happen during or shortly after treatment. They usually are gone within a few weeks after treatment ends. Late side effects are those that take months or even years to develop. They are often permanent.
The most common early side effects are fatigue (feeling tired) and skin changes. Other early side effects usually are related to the area being treated, such as hair loss and mouth problems when radiation treatment is given to the head.
Most side effects go away in time. In the meantime, there are ways to reduce the discomfort they may cause. If you have bad side effects, the doctor may stop your treatments for a while, change the schedule, or change the type of treatment you are getting. Tell your doctor, nurse, or radiation therapist about any side effects you notice so they can help you with them. The information here can serve as a guide to handling some side effects, but it can’t replace talking with your doctor or nurse about what’s happening to you.
People often become discouraged about how long their treatment lasts or the side effects they have. If you feel this way, talk to your doctor. If needed, your doctor should be able to suggest ways to help you feel better.
Radioprotective drugs
Doctors look for ways to reduce side effects caused by radiation therapy while still using the doses needed to