What are the common side effects of radiation treatment?
Failed effects of radiation include fatigue, nausea, hair loss, low blood count and skin irritation. The treatment itself is painless, but damage caused by the surrounding healthy cells can lead to unpleasant side effects. Not all patients have the same effects and their severity also differs from patient to patient. Side effects can be grouped into two groups known as acute radiation and side radiation effects.
Acute side effects of radiation occur during the treatment phase and may last several weeks within a few months after the treatment is completed. Nausea is one of the side effects of radiation treatment that does not affect all patients, but when they return in, it usually does about two hours after treatment. Fatigue is quite common in patients and also affects some people more than others. If lymph nodes are damaged, low blood numbers may occur, especially white blood cells is exposed to radiation.
The side effects of radiation can also affect the skin, resulting in red, damp and crying skin, as well as dry and scaly skin. The reactions of the skin usually occur only in the treated area and are worse in areas where the skin naturally folds. Mucositis, which is inflammation of the mucous membranes in the digestive tract, may occur if radiation comes into contact with some of the mucous membranes in the mouth, esophagus, intestine or rectum. Hair loss is another side effect that occurs only in the area where radiation treatment has been given.
Later side effects include scarring and fibrosis that can reduce elasticity in the affected tissues. In rare cases, leukemia and other cancer may develop in areas exposed to radiation. If sweat glands are damaged, this can lead to reduced sweating. Damaged tear glands can resul in dry eyes and damaged salivary glands may result in dry mouth. If the genital glands are damaged overD radiation, infertility may also occur.
The severity of the side effects of radiation differs from man to man. In general, good health do not usually experience side effects in the same degree as for poor health. Some medicines, location and type of cancer, as well as the amount of radiation that all given, play an important role in the severity of the side effects of radiation.