Side Effects of Radiation Treatment to the Lungs

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among both men and women in the United States, reports the American Cancer Society. Although radiation is often used to treat lung cancer, there are side effects possible from radiation treatment to the lungs.

Cause

• While radiation destroys cancer cells in your lungs, the highly concentrated energy used in the procedure also has the potential to damage surrounding cells. This damage is what produces side effects from radiation treatments for lung cancer.

Types of Side Effects

• Some side effects of radiation treatment to the lungs are common to other types of radiation therapy and include skin redness, dryness or irritation at the site of the radiation and fatigue. Side effects that are unique to radiation treatment to the chest area for tumors like lung cancer include hair loss on your chest, loss of appetite, inflammation of your esophagus and an inflammation of the lungs known as radiation pneumonitis.

Time Frame

• Side effects from radiation treatment to the lungs may not develop immediately after treatment, according to Radiological Society of North America. Cases of pneumonitis from radiation usually last two to four weeks, explains the Radiological Society of North America, while the fatigue caused by radiation has the potential to last up to one year, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Risks

• Radiation treatment to the lungs slightly increases your risk of developing other types of cancer later in life, reports the Mayo Clinic.

Solutions

• Corticosteroid medications are often given to relieve inflammation to the lungs, explains the Radiological Society of North America. The American Cancer Society reports that a balanced diet and adequate sleep are important steps in reducing the side effects of radiation treatment.