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 this area. Late side effects can take months or even years to develop.
How soon do side effects start after radiation?
Reactions to the radiation therapy often start
during the second or third week of treatment
. Or, they may last for several weeks after the final treatment. Some side effects may be long term. Talk with your treatment team about what to expect.
How long does it take to recover from radiation therapy?
Most side effects generally go away within
a few weeks to 2 months
of finishing treatment. But some side effects may continue after treatment is over because it takes time for healthy cells to recover from the effects of radiation therapy. Late side effects can happen months or years after treatment.
What should you avoid during radiation?
What Foods Should I Avoid During Radiation? Foods to avoid or reduce during radiation therapy include
sodium (salt), added sugars, solid (saturated) fats, and an excess of alcohol
. Some salt is needed in all diets. Your doctor or dietitian can recommend how much salt you should consume based on your medical history.
How long does radiation stay in your body after cancer treatment?
For most people, the cancer experience doesn’t end on the last day of radiation therapy. Radiation therapy usually does not have an immediate effect, and it could take days, weeks or months to see any change in the cancer. The cancer cells may then
keep dying for weeks or months
after the end of treatment.
What is the next step after radiation therapy?
When your radiation therapy is complete, you will meet with your radiation oncologist for follow-up. Your next steps after that may include:
Meeting with other care teams for additional treatment
, if needed. Meeting with the cancer survivorship team for supportive care.
Does radiation shorten your life?
“Rapidly dividing cells, such as cancer cells, are
more affected
by radiation therapy than normal cells. The body may respond to this damage with fibrosis or scarring, though this is generally a mild process and typically does not cause any long-term problems that substantially affect quality of life.”
How long does radiation burn last?
Radiation burns, also known as X-ray dermatitis or radiation dermatitis, may start showing up about two weeks into external radiation treatment. These burns are common, but they tend to be mild and usually resolve
within two months after radiation treatment ends
.
How long does the fatigue last after radiation?
Radiation can give you fatigue that gets worse over time (called cumulative fatigue). It usually lasts
3 to 4 weeks after your treatment stops
, but it can continue for up to 3 months.
How do you know if radiation therapy is working?
There are a number of ways your care team can determine if radiation is working for you. These can include:
Imaging Tests
: Many patients will have radiology studies (CT scans, MRI scans, PET scans) during or after treatment to see if/how the tumor has responded (gotten smaller, stayed the same, or grown).
Can you drive home after radiation treatment?
Will I be able to drive after my radiotherapy treatment?
Almost all patients are able to drive while receiving radiotherapy treatment
. However, with some types of cancer, driving may NOT be recommended due to fatigue or strong pain medication.
Why do you have to hold your breath during radiation?
How does deep inspiration breath hold protect the heart? One way to protect your heart while you are receiving radiation therapy is to hold your breath
via DIBH
. The radiation is then delivered to your breast while you are holding your breath deeply for 20 seconds. This will provide protection for your heart.
What can you not do after radiation treatment?
Radiation can cause the skin to become red, itchy or both. You may want to: Wear loose, soft, cotton clothing over the area being treated.
Avoid stiff or starched clothing near the area being treated
.
At what stage of cancer is radiotherapy used?
Radiotherapy may be used in
the early stages of cancer or after it has started to spread
. It can be used to: try to cure the cancer completely (curative radiotherapy) make other treatments more effective – for example, it can be combined with chemotherapy or used before surgery (neo-adjuvant radiotherapy)
What are the disadvantages of radiation therapy?
The disadvantages of radiation therapy include:
damage to surrounding tissues (e.g. lung, heart)
, depending on how close the area of interest is located to the tumor. inability to kill tumor cells that cannot be seen on imaging scans and are therefore not always included on the 3D models (e.g. in near-by lymph nodes.
What is the success rate of radiation therapy?
When it comes to early stages of disease, patients very frequently do well with either brachytherapy or external beam radiation. Success rates of
around 90% or higher
can be achieved with either approach.
