What to Expect After Radiatio... Health Article

Radiation affects normal cells as well as cancer cells. That means you may have some side effects. Usually, the risk for side effects is far less than the benefits of killing cancer cells. Many people have no side effects at all. If you do have them, they relate to the dose of radiation you get and where you get it. Generally, side effects are limited to the area that’s been treated.

Here are some side effects that are common with radiation treatment to the chest. They’re listed from the most to the least common. They can be unpleasant but aren’t dangerous. Talk with your doctor or nurse about how to control them with medication and your diet. They usually go away a few weeks after you stop getting treatment.

• Fatigue

• Skin irritation or changes

• Loss of appetite

• Difficulty swallowing

• Dry coughing

Ask your doctor which symptoms, if any, require that you call him or her immediately. For instance, it is wise to call your doctor if you have:

• Sweating

• Fever

• Pain

You may feel better during your radiation treatments if you make an extra effort to get plenty of rest and eat healthy meals that are easy to swallow. It is important to try and maintain your weight during treatments for lung cancer. Go to Managing Side Effects to learn more about how to ease these side effects of radiation.