How soon after radiation do side effects start?

Reactions to the radiation therapy often start during the second or third week of treatment. Or, they may last for several weeks after the final treatment. Some side effects may be long term. Talk with your treatment team about what to expect.

What are the worst side effects of radiation?

Specific side effects of radiation therapy that affect parts of the body

• Headaches.
• Hair loss.
• Nausea.
• Vomiting.
• Extreme tiredness (fatigue)
• Hearing loss.
• Skin and scalp changes.
• Trouble with memory and speech.

How long does radiation stay in your body after treatment?

For most people, the cancer experience doesn’t end on the last day of radiation therapy. Radiation therapy usually does not have an immediate effect, and it could take days, weeks or months to see any change in the cancer. The cancer cells may then keep dying for weeks or months after the end of treatment.

What are the long term side effects of radiation?

What are the most common long-term side effects of radiation?

• Cataracts.
• Hair loss.
• Hearing loss.
• Memory loss (“It’s hard to determine how much memory loss or cognitive dysfunction is related to a tumor and how much is related to radiotherapy,” says Dr. Nowlan.

Does radiation treatment stay in your body?

The radiation stays in the body for anywhere from a few minutes to a few days. Most people receive radiation therapy for just a few minutes. Sometimes, people receive internal radiation therapy for more time. If so, they stay in a private room to limit other people’s exposure to the radiation.

What are the good effects of radiation?

But used carefully, in a directed and modulated format, radiation can be used for good. Positive effects of radiation include fighting cancer, diagnostics and the possibility for extending life.

What is radiation and how dangerous is it?

Radiation damages the cells that make up the human body. Low levels of radiation are not dangerous, but medium levels can lead to sickness, headaches, vomiting and a fever. High levels can kill you by causing damage to your internal organs.

What are the negative effects of radiation therapy?

Radiation Therapy Side Effects. Common side effects of radiation therapy are fatigue, skin changes, and some loss of appetite.

What are common radiation treatment side effects?

8 Common Side Effects of Radiation Therapy Fatigue. Fatigue is perhaps the most common side effect of radiation therapy. Skin issues. Women-specific side effects. Male-specific side effects. Vomiting and nausea. Cough and breathing issues.