As with chemotherapy, the side effects you face from radiation therapy depend upon the type of and the length of the radiation therapy you receive. Some will experience severe side effects while others will have no side effects at all. There are two possible types of side effects. The first is chronic, which are ones that take a long time to develop and are usually permanent. Second are acute side effects and these are ones that develop immediately.
During radiation therapy, the skin can become red and blotchy, similar to a sunburn. The area may also become itchy and irritated so talk to your doctor about how to reduce your skin discomfort. In addition, the skin that is exposed to the radiation may also become wet and sore. Tell your doctor immediately about this reaction so they can help you care for the area while preventing an infection.
Your blood may incur some of the side effects of radiation therapy. The therapy has been known to lessen your white blood cell count and platelet count. In some cases there has been a reduction in the red blood cell levels which may lead your doctor to temporarily halt the treatments until the cell count returns to normal.
Radiation therapy can also affect your eating habits because you may face a loss of appetite and have your digestive process interfered with due to the therapy. There could be weight loss and in some instances you may be put on a liquid diet because it can become painful to chew solid foods. During the therapy you need to make sure you eat a well balanced diet and eat smaller portions more often than usual.
The emotional effects of radiation therapy lead some patients to feel anxious, depressed and lonely during the treatment. The therapy affects the hormones and the hormone imbalance can cause these feelings. The best way to deal with this side effect is to talk about your feelings and discomfort with your doctor and your friends and family.
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