WARNING! Complications of radiation therapy
Adverse reactions to radiation therapy arise gradually and diminish gradually after treatments. They may be acute, subacute (accumulating as treatment progresses), chronic (following treatment), or long term (arising months to years after treatment).
Adverse reactions are localized to the area of treatment, and their severity depends on the total radiation dose, underlying organ sensitivity, and the patient's overall condition.
Short but serious
Common acute and subacute adverse reactions can include altered skin integrity, altered gastrointestinal (GI) and genitourinary functions, altered fertility and sexual functions, altered bone marrow production, fatigue, and alopecia.
For the long haul
Long-term complications or adverse reactions may include radiation pneumonitis, neuropathy, skin and muscle atrophy, telangiectasia, fistulas, altered endocrine function, and secondary cancers. Other complications of treatment include headache, alopecia, xerostomia, dysphagia, stomatitis, altered skin integrity (wet or dry desquamation), nausea, vomiting, heartburn, diarrhea, cystitis, and fatigue.