It is very important to remember that each person responds differently to a treatment. Any side affects you may experience depend on the type and location of cancer, the dose of radiation administered, and your general health. Some people may have a few side effects, while others may have many.
How Long Do The Side Effects Last?
Keep in mind that the type of radiation side affects you may experience will depend on the dose and schedule prescribed. Most side effects go away within a few months after stopping treatment. Some side effects may persist after stopping treatment because healthy cells need time to recover from radiation.
Side effects can limit your ability to do some things. What you can do depends on how you are feeling. Some patients can go to work or engage in recreational activities during radiation therapy. Others find they need more rest than usual and can’t do as much. If you have side effects that are bothersome and affect your daily activities or your health, your doctor may stop your treatment for a while, change the schedule, or change the type the treatment you are receiving. Tell your healthcare team about any side affects you notice so they can help you.
Early and Late Effects of Radiation Therapy
Early side effects occur during or shortly after treatment. mild and treatable. They usually disappear a few weeks after stopping treatment. The most common early side effects are tiredness (feeling tired) and skin changes. Other early side effects are usually related to the area being treated, e.g. B. the hair and mouth problems when that area undergoes radiation therapy.
Late side effects of radiation can take months or even years to show. They can appear in any normal tissue in the body that has received radiation. The risk of later side effects depends on the area treated and the radiation dose used. Careful treatment planning can help prevent serious long-term side effects. It is best to talk to your radiation therapist about the risk of side effects.
Common General Side Effects of Radiation Therapy
Fatigue
Fatigue is feeling tired physically, mentally, and emotionally. It is very common in people with cancer and often occurs with radiation therapy. Most people feel tired after a few weeks of radiation therapy. This happens because radiation treatments kill some healthy cells as well as cancer cells. Fatigue usually gets worse with treatment. The stress of being sick and the daily trips to get treatment can make fatigue worse. But it will usually go away over time after treatment is over.
Skin Problems
Your skin in the treatment area may appear red, irritated, swollen, blistered, sunburned, or tanned. After a few weeks, your skin may become dry, scaly, itchy, or scaly. This is sometimes called radiation dermatitis. It is important to tell your healthcare team about any skin changes. They can suggest ways to relieve discomfort, reduce irritation, and prevent infection. These problems usually go away gradually after stopping treatment. However, in some cases, the treated skin will remain darker and may be more sensitive than before. You have to be careful with your skin.
Erectile Dysfunction
Pelvic radiation can cause erectile dysfunction, although it is not clear why. Radiation can damage nerves in the pelvic area, block blood flow to the penis, or lower testosterone levels in the body. Whether you experience erectile dysfunction as a result of radiation therapy depends on the amount of radiation you receive and how much of the pelvic area is treated: more radiation to a larger part of your body is more likely to cause side effects. Medications like Cenforce 150, Vidalista 40, Kamagra Oral Jelly and more are available for the treatment of erectile dysfunction problems.
Men who smoke or have a history of heart disease, high blood pressure, or diabetes may also be at increased risk of erectile dysfunction after radiation therapy. These conditions may already have caused some damage to the arteries which can be made worse by radiation. The amount of semen and the quality of semen you ejaculate may decrease after radiation therapy. You may experience pain during ejaculation after the treatment, but this usually goes away over time.
In cases of erectile dysfunction, you can take medicines like Tadalista, Tadarise or Vilitra to suppress the side effects and regain penile erection but only after consulting with your cancer therapist.
Hair Loss
Radiation therapy can cause hair in the treated area to thin or fall out. For example, head irradiation may cause you to lose some or all of your scalp hair (including your eyebrows and eyelashes), but if you have hip surgery, you will not lose your scalp hair. Most people find that their hair grows back after treatment stops, but managing hair loss can be difficult. When it does grow back, your hair may be thinner or have a different texture than before. Protect your head when exposed to the sun. If you prefer to wear a hairpiece or wig, make sure the liner doesn’t irritate your scalp.
Low Blood Counts
Blood cells help your body fight infection, heal quicker and prevent bleeding. In rare cases, radiation therapy can cause changes in your blood counts. This side effect is more likely if you are also receiving chemotherapy.
