Side Effects of Radiation Treatment for Rectal Cancer

According to the American Cancer Society, your overall lifetime risk for developing colorectal cancer is 1 in 19. Rectal cancer is cancer of the rectum or the last few inches of your colon. If you receive radiation therapy for your rectal cancer, you may experience side effects.

Radiation Therapy

• Radiation therapy involves using high-energy x-ray beams to kill cancer cells. The radiation is aimed at only the cancer site to limit damage to normal cells. Not everyone receives the same number of treatments or dose of radiation.

Cause of Side Efffects

• In order to reach the cancer cells, the radiation beam must pass through normal healthy cells. This can damage the healthy cells and cause side effects. Not everyone experiences the same side effects. If you are also undergoing chemotherapy, your side effects could be more severe.

Most Common

• The two most common side effects of radiation therapy for rectal cancer are fatigue and skin changes. Many patients say they feel exhausted, worn out or slow and heavy. Fatigue can be mild or extreme. Skin changes to the area being treated can include dryness, itching, peeling and blistering. You will need to take special care of your skin during treatment.

Other Possibilites

• Radiation treatment for rectal cancer may also cause diarrhea, hair loss in the treatment area, nausea, vomiting, swelling or urinary and bladder problems. These side effects, along with skin changes and fatigue, usually go away within two months after your last treatment.

Long-term Effects

• While most side effects stop soon after your radiation treatments end, a few can last for six months or longer after treatment. These side effects vary by body part treated and radiation dosage. For rectal cancer, long-term side effects include infertility and joint problems. A long-term side effect of the radiation treatments is the risk of developing a secondary cancer later in life.