![]() Radiotherapy's late effects can be mild and not cause problems for you or they can be more severe and affect how you live. It can happen all at once or come on slowly. Home > Navigating Cancer Care > How Cancer is Treated > Radiation Therapy > What to Expect When Having Radiation Therapy Request Permissions What to Expect When Having Radiation Therapy Approved by the Cancer.Net Editorial Board, 06/2022 It is normal to feel worried or even overwhelmed when you learn that you will need radiation therapy. ![]() Fatigue is feeling exhausted and worn out. Many people who get radiation therapy have fatigue. ![]() Some normal cells in the area being treated can also be damaged by radiotherapy. Ask your oncologist, doctor or nurse about the risks and benefits of radiation therapy and any other questions you have about your treatment. Being prepared and understanding radiation therapy can help lessen some of the stress surrounding your treatment. It destroys cancer cells in the area where the radiotherapy is given. Radiation therapy, also known as radiotherapy, is one of the main treatments for cancer. Damage to healthy cells can cause side effects. What is radiotherapy Radiotherapy uses high-energy rays called radiation to treat cancer. Side effects are dose- dependent for example higher. Radiation Therapy Side Effects Credit: iStock Radiation not only kills or slows the growth of cancer cells, it can also affect nearby healthy cells. This is not a complete list of radiotherapy late effects, just some examples. Side effects from radiation are usually limited to the area of the patients body that is under treatment. Whichever part of the body you had radiotherapy to, you may have concerns about intimacy and sexual wellbeing. Or, for example, if you had your head and neck treated with radiotherapy you may have concerns about swallowing, dry mouth or thick saliva. If you had your pelvis treated you may have concerns about bowel, bladder, gynaecological or erectile symptoms. They can include pain or swelling in the area, skin changes, and loss of movement or function. Late effects of radiotherapy can vary between people and depend on which part of the body you had treated. Many people go on to recover and return to their roles, responsibilities and hobbies after cancer treatment, however, there will be some people who have ongoing issues. Or you may find the side effects that you had during treatment never went away. Depending on the part of your body is being treated with radiation, you may also have the following side effects: Diarrhea Hair loss in the treatment area. Radiotherapy late effects are symptoms that can happen any time from 3 to 6 months to many years after your radiotherapy treatment ended.
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