What are the side effects of radiation therapy?
Effects from radiation therapy are broken down into acute (during or shortly after finishing treatment) and late effects. The side effects are generally limited to the area treated and depend on what tissues are in the radiation beam. The skin often will get a radiation reaction, which can take as long as a month to heal. We will discuss other side effects that may be particular to your pet when you come in for your appointment.
Radiation therapy can cause damage to normal cells in the area of the tumor as well as death of tumor cells. Side effects depend on the area of the body that is receiving the radiation treatment. Some possible side effects are: skin sores loss of head and body hair increased risk of infection bleeding problems nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea weakness, tiredness, and fatigue sores in the mouth. To help relieve skin problems caused by radiation treatment: Avoid tight or scratchy clothing that irritates the skin. Use lukewarm water and mild soap for bathing. Avoid being in the sun. When you are outside, put sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher on exposed parts of the body. Do not use any powders, creams, perfumes, deodorants, body oils, ointments, or lotions without first checking with your provider. They may interfere with your treatment. To help you cope with the fatigue, get plenty of rest and sleep. If you have a loss of appetite: Eat frequent small meals.
Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania Last Modified: October 19, 2006 The side effects of radiation therapy vary from patient to patient. Most patients have only mild side effects that are easily managed. There are two main types of side effects: acute and chronic. Acute side effects occur during the treatment phase and typically go away a few weeks after treatment is finished. They include fatigue, skin reactions, and side effects specific to the area being treated. The most common acute side effect of radiation therapy is fatigue, a sense of tiredness or general weakness. It is believed to be caused by the tremendous amount of energy that is used by the body to heal itself in response to radiation therapy. Most people begin to feel fatigued about 2 weeks after radiation treatments begin. The tired feeling goes away gradually after the treatment is finished.
