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Coping with Physical & Emotional Changes
 
    Chemotherapy Effects
    Radiation Therapy Effects
    Pain
    Managing Care at Home
    Nutrition for Cancer Patients
    Long-term Physical Changes
    Anxiety, Fear, and Depression
    Coping with Cancer in Everyday Life
    Coping with Grief and Loss
    Listen With Your Heart
    Coping Tools and Quizzes
    Stories of Hope
    Feeling Good About Your Appearance
   
   
   
Radiation Therapy Effects
Since radiation is a local treatment, side effects are usually confined to the area being treated. The early effects of radiation may be seen a few days or weeks after treatments have started and may continue for several weeks after treatments are completed. Learn more about radiation therapy effects.
What Can I Do to Take Care of Myself during Therapy?
You need to take special care of yourself to protect your health during radiation treatment.
Dealing With Fatigue
Fatigue is the feeling of being tired physically, mentally, and emotionally.
Dealing with Skin Problems
Your skin in the treatment area may look red, irritated, swollen, blistered, sunburned, or tanned.
What Can I Do About Hair Loss?
Radiation therapy can cause hair loss (alopecia), but only in the area being treated.
Will My Blood Count Be Affected?
Radiation therapy can cause low white blood cell counts or low levels of platelets, but this is rare.
Will I Have Eating Problems?
Radiation to the head and neck or parts of the digestive system may cause eating and digestion problems.
How Will I Feel Emotionally?
Many patients feel tired due to the radiation therapy and this can affect emotions.
Will Side Effects Limit My Activity?
Side effects might limit your ability to do things.
Are There Long-term Side Effects I Should Be Worried About?
During and right after radiation therapy, it may be hard to think ahead to what may happen many years in the future.
Radiation Therapy to the Head and Neck
Some people who get radiation to the head and neck have redness and soreness in the mouth, a dry mouth, trouble swallowing, changes in taste, or nausea.
Radiation Therapy to the Brain
Stereotactic radiosurgery is often used when cancer has only spread to a few sites in the brain.
Radiation Therapy to the Breast and Chest
Radiation treatment to the chest may cause swallowing problems, cough, or shortness of breath.
Radiation Therapy to the Stomach and Abdomen
If you are having radiation treatment to the stomach or some part of the abdomen (belly), you may have vomiting, nausea, or diarrhea.
Radiation Therapy to the Pelvis
If you get radiation therapy to any part of the pelvis, you might have one or more of the digestive problems already described.
Related Tools & Topics
Learn About Cancer  
Building a Support Network  
Tools to Monitor Treatment  
Circle Of Sharing: Personalize Your Cancer Information  
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