Radiation therapy is used before surgery to shrink tumors or after surgery to destroy remaining cancer cells. This treatment targets and kills cancer cells with powerful high energy x-rays. It's usually easy to tolerate and some people don't have any side effects. Uncomfortable and annoying effects can usually be treated, but many effects don't appear right away. There are many long-term effects of radiation therapy that can show up years later, and sometimes these effects last for a long time.
Destruction of Normal Cells
Radiation damages normal cells as well as cancerous ones. Long-term effects on the part of your body that was treated can occur. Fluid can build up and parts of your body may swell. Radiation to the chest might affect your heart and lungs or cause scarring that can limit your activities. Radiation to the abdomen may cause bladder problems.
Brain Tissue
Blood vessels damaged by radiation can cause changes in the white matter of brain tissue years after therapy is done. Brain tissue can die. Normal function of the area that received radiation can change, memory can be impaired, personality might change or intellect can decrease. Surgery may be needed to remove dead tissue and patients might need steroid treatment, which can decrease body tissue swelling.
Hormones
Radiation can cause changes in hormone levels. This can affect your thyroid, your ability to process water, your sugar metabolism, and fertility. Your libido may decrease, leaving you with no desire for sex. It can also induce early menopause.
Fatigue
The major effect of long term radiation therapy is fatigue. Fatigue can begin during treatment and last for years after treatment ends. Although the exact cause of fatigue has not yet been determined, many doctors believe fatigue is caused by slower metabolism due to the metabolic energy used to repair the tissue damaged by radiation.Years after treatment, you can feel still feel drained, have no energy, and be incapable of performing the simplest tasks.
Tissue Damage
Damage to tissues near the radiation area can occur. Years after treatment, shortness of breath and difficulty breathing can be caused by lungs damaged during radiation. Difficulty moving the neck and arms, trouble swallowing, and dental problems from dry mouth are all possible because of tissue and gland damage. Medicine, oxygen, acupressure, acupuncture, and breathing exercises can relieve these symptoms. Amifostine may be prescribed for dry mouth, cortisone can reduce inflammation that causes shortness of breath and difficulty moving, Palifermin can prevent and treat mouth sores, and Misoprostol heals inflammation and wounds.
Appearance
Over a period of time, a breast treated with radiation looks different than the other breast. The untreated breast usually hangs lower and gains more weight than the treated breast. Changes in the appearance of skin can also occur.
Cancer Caused by Radiation
The risk of developing different types of cancer after radiation therapy is possible. Leukemia can develop, the the highest risk occurring 5 to 9 years after radiation treatment. Many kinds of cancer don't show up for 10 or more years after treatment.
Tags: after treatment, radiation therapy, years after, affect your, after radiation, breath difficulty, cancer cells
