Radiation Therapy Side Effects Lung Cancer Treatment

The goal is to destroy or damage the cancer without hurting too many healthy cells.

Radiation therapy side effects lung cancer treatment.

Early side effects happen during or shortly after treatment. Giving chemo and radiation together is called concurrent chemoradiation. Side effects are caused by damage to healthy cells. 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. They re usually gone within a few weeks after treatment ends. Though this therapy is quite effective it could be accompanied by side effects that can range from mild to severe. Radiation therapy most often uses x rays but protons or other types of energy also can be used.

Lung cancer is a serious life threatening disease. Concern over long term side effects of radiation therapy is becoming more common as survival rates improve. To treat the tumor and lymph nodes in the chest. The most common early side effects are fatigue feeling tired and skin changes.

Just as there can be long term side effects of chemotherapy radiation therapy may result in side effects that may begin and linger far after treatment has been completed these can include heart problems lung problems thyroid problems secondary cancers and more but it s important. The term radiation therapy most often refers to external beam radiation therapy. Radiation therapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses beams of intense energy to kill cancer cells. Different cells and tissues in the body tolerate radiation differently.

In limited stage sclc it might be used at the same time as chemotherapy chemo. Depending on the stage of small cell lung cancer sclc and other factors radiation therapy is used. Recent research advances and new technology have facilitated highly precise radiation delivery techniques which can reduce the impact on surrounding healthy tissue and the likelihood of side effects. Radiation therapy is one of the treatment options that is recommended for lung cancer.

Early and late effects of radiation therapy. This article would give you some information on the short term and long term side effects. Other side effects depend on the part of the body that is being treated. Radiation therapy uses high energy rays or particles to kill cancer cells.

Many people who get radiation therapy experience fatigue. Learn more about possible side effects. Radiation therapy treats cancer by using high energy waves to kill tumor cells. This treatment can cause side.