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Radiation Therapy Risks

Radiation therapy, along with other treatment methods that include chemotherapy, hormone therapy and immunotherapy, is commonly used as a method of fighting cancer. Radiation targets and destroys cancerous cells in the body, causing them to stop mutating other, healthy cells. While radiation therapy is often a necessary form of treatment, there can be risks involved in the procedure.

  1. Immediate Side Effects

    • While not life threatening, the side effects from radiation therapy can have an adverse effect on the quality of life. Side effects vary and depend upon where the radiation is applied. Common side effects include a loss of hair around the site of the radiation therapy, as well as possible skin irritation. Fatigue is another side effect that is commonly experienced during the therapy. Various areas of the body can also be affected; when the focus of the radiation is on the stomach, nausea and vomiting may occur, for example. All of these side effects are temporary and subside over time.

    Post-Therapy Side Effects

    • While many of the common side effects of radiation therapy disappear over time, some side effects may not be felt or noticed during the radiation therapy. Instead they come on after the therapy is over. These side effects can take several months or even years to be noticed. Radiation therapy can affect the suppleness of the skin due to the atrophy of tissues. This can include hardening of the skin and scarring. Blood vessel walls can thicken through the radiation procedure, providing a lower amount of blood circulation.

    Secondary Cancers

    • Sad but true, having radiation therapy for one cancer can result in another cancer. The most likely of these is leukemia, which is the result of bone marrow cellular damage caused by extended periods of radiation exposure. Typically, this occurs only in cases where radiation therapy is significantly prolonged and is rare in those seeking radiation therapy on a traditional scale. Leukemia generally takes five to 20 years to show after completion of the therapy. Cancer can also occur at the site of previous radiation therapy. As with leukemia, this is rarely seen and only in cases that have had prolonged exposure to radiation.

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