Side Effects Of Chemo And Radiation For Rectal Cancer

Women undergoing radiation therapy for cervical or uterine cancer have a much higher incidence of serious side effects than previously realized according to results from a new clinical trial.

Side effects of chemo and radiation for rectal cancer. Cancer therapies like chemotherapy and radiation can be life extending and life saving but they come with side effects. This treatment can cause side. Side effects can happen with any type of treatment for colorectal cancer but everyone s experience is different. Some occur as soon as treatment begins while others hit weeks later because of the cumulative effects of chemo medications or exposure to radiation.

Late effects of cancer treatment can come from any of the main types of cancer treatment. Radiation therapy treats cancer by using high energy waves to kill tumor cells. Many people who get radiation therapy experience fatigue. We will discuss the short term side effects and long term side effects and at the end of the page we provide suggestions for how to build your care team and who should be included.

Radiation for anal cancer typically recurrent anal cancer may focus on areas where the cancer has progressed. Chemo drugs for colon or rectal cancer that are given into a vein iv can be given either as an injection over a few minutes or as an infusion over a longer period of time. Radiation therapy has side effects because it not only kills or slows the growth of cancer cells it can also affect nearby healthy cells. Many doctors now favor giving radiation therapy before surgery as it may make it easier to remove the cancer especially if the cancer s size and or.

The radiation kills the cancer cells over time. Chemotherapy hormone therapy radiation surgery targeted therapy and immunotherapy. As newer types of cancer treatment are developed such as immunotherapy doctors may find that these treatments also cause late effects in cancer survivors. This information may help women and their clinicians more accurately weigh the potential benefits versus harms of adjuvant therapy said the trial s.

Either before and or after surgery often along with chemotherapy to help keep the cancer from coming back. The goal is to destroy or damage the cancer without hurting too many healthy cells. Some people have many side effects. The side effects will vary depending on the type of chemo drugs or radiation treatment you get.

This can be done in a doctor s office infusion center or in a hospital setting. Other side effects depend on the part of the body that is being treated. Learn more about possible side effects.