The aim of radiotherapy is to destroy cancerous cells, but in the meantime, healthy cells remaining within the treatment area will also be affected. Although the side effects that may occur in this way are mild over time, they can cause serious problems in some patients. Before you start treatment, your doctor will tell you about the side effects that may occur during and after treatment. Explanations that can be expanded with your questions on this subject will inform you and help you be prepared for problems that may arise later.
GENERAL SIDE EFFECTS THAT MAY DEVELOP DUE TO RADIOTHERAPY
Fatigue and Weakness
Fatigue, feeling tired and lack of energy are the most common complaints reported by oncological patients. The exact cause is not always known. It may be due to the disease itself or the treatment. It may also be a result of drops in blood counts, poor sleep, pain and decreased appetite.
Most people begin to feel tired after a few weeks of radiotherapy. Your body uses a lot of energy to heal during radiotherapy. You may also feel tired due to the stress of your illness, the daily commute to treatment, and the effects of radiation on normal cells. Feelings of fatigue or weakness will completely disappear 1-2 weeks after your treatment is completed. While radiotherapy continues, reducing daily activities, taking short rest breaks during the day, light-paced walks and relaxation exercises are recommended.
Lack of appetite
A balanced diet is recommended during and after treatment. and adequate nutrition is an important issue. It may occur due to nausea-vomiting, diarrhea, digestive problems and stress. Care should be taken not to lose weight during the treatment. If necessary, your doctor will evaluate your nutritional status and recommend special diets or additional nutritional supplements. It is recommended to eat frequently and in small meals. You can benefit from appetite-increasing factors such as silence, calming music, and dim light.
A 5-10 minute walk before meals and even limited movements in bed stimulate the appetite. Take care to consume all your food tastefully and in a nice environment. Morning hours general This is the time when the appetite is at its strongest. You can take advantage of this and turn breakfast into the biggest meal of the day.
Skin Problems
Some skin side effects may occur in every area where radiation therapy is applied. The risk of this side effect increases as the total dose planned to be administered increases. In other words, it is mostly seen in long-term treatments lasting 5-6 weeks and in the later stages of treatment. The risk of this type of side effects is higher in areas where the skin tissue is thin, such as the armpit and neck, as well as in the anus area and oral mucosa tissues. Skin side effects begin with mild redness that fades with pressure and can progress to watery, open sores. Your doctor and technician will constantly check skin changes and when they see the first signs of skin reactions, they will take the necessary precautions and inform you. In some cases, your treatment may need to be interrupted for a while. You may be advised to use certain medications. But avoid using creams or dressings without your doctor's recommendation. The precautions you will take for your skin will be explained to you. Most skin reactions disappear 2-4 weeks after the end of treatment. Sometimes, in the long term after treatment, dot-like dark spots (telangiectasia) on your skin that are included in the radiotherapy area may be permanent and harmless. Your skin in that area may change to be darker and harder than other areas, and this situation often approaches normal over time.
REGIONAL SIDE EFFECTS
Possible Side Effects of Head and Neck Area Radiotherapy
Radiation therapy applied to the head and neck area may increase the possibility of tooth decay. Oral care designed to prevent problems will be a very important part of your treatment. Before starting radiotherapy, make an appointment with your dentist and have a complete oral care. There may be sores in the mouth during the treatment. Therefore, you may need to use regular antiseptic mouthwash and other medications throughout the treatment. Since the salivary glands are affected, dry mouth and resulting difficulty in swallowing and chewing may also occur. If your throat is very irritated and eating and drinking becomes painful, it may be necessary to take a break from the treatment for a while. It also causes fungal infections in the mouth. It may swell and your sense of taste may deteriorate. All of these can lead to decreased appetite and therefore weight loss. Such side effects may continue for several weeks after treatment is completed. There may be hoarseness. However, it returns to its original state a few weeks after the end of the treatment.
Possible Side Effects During Radiotherapy to the Lung Area
During and after radiotherapy, you may feel shortness of breath for a while and It may become difficult to take in solid foods. It is possible to relieve this pain felt during eating with some special medications and mouthwashes.
These symptoms gradually decrease after treatment and usually disappear completely in 5-8 weeks. Dry cough and shortness of breath may develop. However, complaints of cough and shortness of breath that develop a few months after the end of treatment are important as they may indicate lung damage due to radiotherapy.
Possible Side Effects During Radiotherapy to the Abdominal Area
During the treatment, Even starting from the first days, nausea and sometimes vomiting may occur. Due to this, rapid weight loss begins with eating problems, and medications will be given to prevent these complaints. At the end of radiotherapy, you will have no complaints. Apart from these, complaints of diarrhea, stomach cramps and bloating may occur. In case of diarrhea, treatment is interrupted and medication is started when necessary. Diarrhea will disappear completely after treatment. In addition, frequent urination and burning sensation during urination may occur as a result of the bladder being affected. Drinking plenty of water relieves all these symptoms.
Side Effects Due to Effects on Blood Cells
Radiotherapy can affect the cells produced by the blood-forming system. In addition, blood-related side effects are more common in radiotherapy that begins with chemotherapy or immediately after chemotherapy. In order to detect these effects in a timely manner, a blood count can be performed on the patient under treatment.
Recommendations
If your general condition when you start radiotherapy is suitable for continuing your daily life, you can also have a blood count during radiotherapy. There will be no change. However, during long-term treatments, side effects that make your daily life difficult may develop. You may feel tired and weak during your treatment. This fatigue is a result of your treatment. It is a condition that does not indicate that your disease is getting worse and usually disappears after treatment.
Nutrition
You should definitely take care to drink healthy and plenty of water during the treatment. High protein foods such as meat, yoghurt, legumes, eggs, milk and fish are especially necessary in your diet during this period. It would be beneficial to stay away from fatty fried foods. Severe pain and sores may develop in your mouth, so you should stay away from very cold, very hot, bitter and spicy foods. If necessary, your diet can be supplemented with special high-calorie solutions until your oral problems disappear. It will be beneficial for you to consume limited amounts of beans, chickpeas and cumin foods, which cause gas formation during radiotherapy to the abdominal area. Since diarrhea may develop due to the impact on the intestines, foods such as fat-free cheese, white bread, potatoes, rice, and fat-free boiled meat should be consumed during the treatment. Alcohol and cigarettes should never be used during your treatment.
Exercise
Exercises that do not tire the body, such as walking, contribute to physical strength. Therefore, there is no harm in exercising regularly during radiotherapy.
Rest
During radiation treatment, you should continue your normal life as much as possible, but take care to rest.
Skin Care
Skin reactions may occur frequently. The treatment area can be washed with warm water and taken a bath. There may be an itching sensation in the treatment area, but never rub or scratch, because the skin in this area becomes sensitive and can be easily irritated. It is not recommended to use perfumed soaps, powders, deodorants, lotions and creams during the treatment. If you are receiving radiotherapy from the head and neck area, do not shave using foam, cream and razor during the treatment. If necessary, a shaver can be used during the initial period of treatment.
Follow-up
After your treatment is completed, you will be called by your doctor for check-ups at regular intervals to evaluate the improvement in your disease and your general condition. Even if you feel well, you must carefully comply with these check-up appointments and your treatment will be It is absolutely necessary. Control intervals will gradually become longer.
During the controls, you will be examined and certain tests will be requested. During the check-ups, possible late side effects related to the treatment will be evaluated. If no problems with radiotherapy are encountered, your follow-ups will continue to be carried out by your medical oncologist. Check-ups should never be a cause for stress for you, but rather an opportunity to discuss any concerns or problems you may have. You will be given appointments on certain days for your check-ups. However, if one day you have any complaints or any symptoms that concern you, do not hesitate to contact your doctor immediately without waiting for your appointment date.
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