Side Effect Of Chemotherapy And Radiation Therapy

Chemotherapy hormone therapy radiation surgery targeted therapy and immunotherapy.

Side effect of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. The side effects of radiation therapy depend on the area of the body that receives radiation. Radiation therapy treats cancer by using high energy waves to kill tumor cells. Late side effects of radiation therapy may be permanent. The goal is to destroy or damage the cancer without hurting too many healthy cells.

Early and late effects of radiation therapy. Early side effects happen during or shortly after treatment. Many chemotherapy drugs affect hair follicles and can cause hair loss within a few weeks of the first treatment hair loss. Early side effects happen shortly after you receive radiation therapy.

There are also other drugs that are used to treat cancer in different ways including targeted therapy hormone therapy and immunotherapy. Hair loss is perhaps the most infamous side effect of chemo treatments. As newer types of cancer treatment are developed such as immunotherapy doctors may find that these treatments also cause late effects in cancer survivors. Chemotherapy and radiation are two of the most effective treatments for cancer.

Radiation therapy has side effects because it not only kills or slows the growth of cancer cells it can also affect nearby healthy cells. These side effects tend to be short term mild and treatable. The most common early side effects are fatigue feeling tired and skin changes. Cancer therapies like chemotherapy and radiation can be life extending and life saving but they come with side effects.

The side effects will vary depending on the type of chemo drugs or radiation treatment you get. Learn more about possible side effects. Some occur as soon as treatment begins while others hit weeks later because of the cumulative effects of chemo medications or exposure to radiation. Other side effects depend on the part of the body that is being treated.

Late effects of cancer treatment can come from any of the main types of cancer treatment. Late side effects can happen months to years after you receive radiation therapy. This treatment can cause side.