Side Effects Of Radiation Therapy For Bowel Cancer

This will expand your bladder and push the bowel higher up into the abdomen away from the radiation.

Side effects of radiation therapy for bowel cancer.

But while some may be familiar with the most common treatments for prostate cancer such as surgery radiation therapy and active surveillance far fewer people know about potential side effects like bowel dysfunction. Early side effects happen during or shortly after treatment. Possible side effects of radiation therapy. A study from the population based patient reported outcomes.

This treatment can cause side. These side effects tend to be short term mild and treatable. Radiation therapy treats cancer by using high energy waves to kill tumor cells. If you re going to get radiation therapy it s important to ask your doctor about the possible short and long term side effects so that you know what to expect.

The goal is to destroy or damage the cancer without hurting too many healthy cells. Side effects gradually get worse during the treatment and for a couple of weeks after the treatment ends. Possible side effects of radiation therapy for colon and rectal cancer can include. Results from a randomized phase iii study m brændengen and others international journal radiation oncology biology physics 2011.

The most common early side effects are fatigue feeling tired and skin changes. Late patient reported toxicity after preoperative radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy in nonresectable rectal cancer. Volume 81 pages 1017. Early and late effects of radiation therapy.

Learn more about possible side effects. Many people who get radiation therapy experience fatigue. They re usually gone within a few weeks after treatment ends. Other side effects depend on the part of the body that is being treated.

Radiation therapy has side effects because it not only kills or slows the growth of cancer cells it can also affect nearby healthy cells. Different cells and tissues in the body tolerate radiation differently. Radiation therapy like any other treatment has its side effects too and before getting radiation it is important for the person to speak to the doctor on the possible side effects and how long they will last. But they usually begin to improve after around 2 weeks.

Side effects tend to start a week after the radiotherapy begins. Healthy cells in the treatment area can also be damaged even though steps are taken to protect normal tissue as much as possible. Even with precautions radiation therapy can irritate the lining of the bowel or stomach. Quantifying fatigue in long term colorectal cancer survivors.

Radiation therapy is the kind of treatment that uses high energy x rays or particles to destroy tumor cells of colon cancer. They can include feeling tired sore skin diarrhoea and passing urine more often. To reduce the effects of radiation on the bowel the radiation therapists may advise you to drink fluids before each session so you have a full bladder.