SIDE EFFECTS OF RADIATION THERAPY, DURING TREATMENT AND POSSIBLE LONG TERM EFFECTS

CHEST/LUNG   During treatment: skin changes, skin redness, sore throat, difficulty swallowing, heart-burn like sensations and pneumonia   Possible long term: damage to lung causing shortness of breath and cough, heart damage including irritation of the heart, spinal cord damage resulting in paralysis and/or bowel and bladder dysfunction

HEAD AND NECK   During treatment: dry mouth, sore mouth, sore throat, difficulty swallowing, possible loss of taste, red irritated skin, loss of beard and  hoarseness   Possible long term: damage to jaw bone or soft tissues, loss of teeth, injury to the voice box including permanent swelling or damage requiring a tracheotomy (opening in the neck for breathing), thyroid gland dysfunction, small chance of injury to the spinal cord resulting in paralysis, loss of control of bladder and.or bowel function

BREAST   During treatment : skin irritation, possible skin breakdown, possible sore-throat and difficulty swallowing, fatigue   Possible long term:  shrinkage, discoloration and firmness of the breast, rib(s) fracture, scar tissue in the lungs causing cough and/or shortness of breath

ABDOMEN   During treatment:  diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, decreased blood counts with possible infection and/or bleeding, skin soreness, skin redness and itching   Possible long term: damage to bowel with obstruction, liver and kidney damage and failure, spinal cord damage resulting in paralysis and/or bowel or bladder dysfunction

MALE PELVIS   During treatment:  diarrhea, urinary irritation, rectal irritation and decreased blood counts with possible infection and/or bleeding.   Possible long term:  permanent damage to intestines causing obstruction and/or perforation, damage to rectum causing pain and/or bleeding, bladder damage, abnormal opening between the bladder and rectum, impotence, narrowing of the urinary passage, skin soreness or break down

FEMALE PELVIS   During treatment: diarrhea, urinary irritation, rectal irritation, decrease in blood counts, skin soreness and/or breakdown , vaginal irritation or discharge   Possible long term: permanent damage to the rectum causing pain and/or bleeding, bladder damage, abnormal opening between the rectum and vagina (fistula) or between the bladder and vagina, sterility, premature menopause

BRAIN   During treatment: loss of hair, headache, earache and red irritated scalp   Possible long term:  absence of hair in treated area, hormonal changes due to damage to the pituitary gland, brain damage including seizures and memory loss, damage to the eye nerve with loss of sight