Radiotherapy Side Effects Lung 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.

Radiotherapy side effects lung cancer.

Hypofractionated intensity modulated radiotherapy for patients with non small cell lung cancer e pollom and others clinical lung cancer 2016 nov 17 6 588 594. Radiation therapy is one of the treatment options that is recommended for lung cancer. Concern over long term side effects of radiation therapy is becoming more common as survival rates improve. A critical review of recent developments in radiotherapy for non small cell lung cancer s baker and others radiation oncology 2016.

Sometimes side effects get worse for a time after you have finished radiotherapy before they get better. Because radiation therapy is a localized treatment most side effects develop in the treatment area for lung cancer that is the chest. Lung damage radiation pneumonitis. Many people who get radiation therapy experience fatigue.

Lung cancer radiation side effects. However most people have a few side effects during or after radiotherapy. There may also be a small risk. As the main treatment sometimes along with chemotherapy especially if the lung tumor can t be removed because of its size or location if a person isn t healthy enough for surgery or if a person.

Side effects do not usually happen straight away. This treatment can cause side. Other side effects depend on the part of the body that is being treated. Learn more about possible side effects.

The goal is to destroy or damage the cancer without hurting too many healthy cells. Depending on the stage of the non small cell lung cancer nsclc and other factors radiation therapy might be used. 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. See if you re getting radiation to the chest below for more details.

They may develop during treatment or in the days or weeks after treatment finishes. Though this therapy is quite effective it could be accompanied by side effects that can range from mild to severe. Radiation therapy uses high energy rays or particles to kill cancer cells. Radiation therapy treats cancer by using high energy waves to kill tumor cells.

Learn what kinds of cancer get treated by a type of radiation therapy called stereotactic body radiotherapy and find out how to prepare and what kind of side effects to expect.