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You can describe your level of fatigue as none, mild, moderate, or severe. The best measure of fatigue comes from your own report to your cancer care team. No lab tests or x-rays can diagnose or describe your level of fatigue. Only you know if you have fatigue and how bad it is. But it will usually go away over time after treatment ends. It can last a long time and can get in the way of your usual activities. Fatigue felt during radiation treatment is different from the fatigue of everyday life, and it might not get better with rest. Managing fatigue is an important part of care. Stress from being sick and daily trips for treatment can make fatigue worse. Fatigue usually gets worse as treatment goes on. This happens because radiation treatments destroy some healthy cells as well as the cancer cells. Most people start to feel tired after a few weeks of radiation therapy. It’s very common for people with cancer and often happens with radiation therapy. Common general side effects of radiation therapy Fatigueįatigue is feeling tired physically, mentally, and emotionally. These drugs have their own side effects, too, so be sure you understand what to look for. Not all doctors agree on how these drugs should be used in radiation therapy.
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This drug may be used in people with head and neck cancer to reduce the mouth problems caused by radiation therapy.
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The one most commonly used today is amifostine. These drugs are given before radiation treatment to protect certain normal tissues in the treatment area. One way to reduce side effects is by using radioprotective drugs, but these are only used for certain types of radiation given to certain parts of the body. Radioprotective drugs for reducing side effects It’s always best to talk to your radiation oncologist about the risk of long-term side effects. Careful treatment planning can help avoid serious long-term side effects. The risk of late side effects depends on the area treated as well as the radiation dose that was used. They can occur in any normal tissue in the body that has received radiation.
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The most common early side effects are fatigue (feeling tired) and skin changes. They’re usually gone within a few weeks after treatment ends. These side effects tend to be short-term, mild, and treatable. Early side effects happen during or shortly after treatment.Early and late effects of radiation therapy Tell your cancer care team about any side affects you notice so they can help you with them.
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If you have side effects that are bothersome and affecting your daily activities or health, the doctor may stop your treatments for a while, change the schedule, or change the type of treatment you’re getting. Others find they need more rest than usual and can’t do as much. Some patients are able to go to work or enjoy leisure activities while they get radiation therapy. What you can do will depend on how you feel. Side effects might limit your ability to do some things. Some side effects may continue after treatment ends because it takes time for the healthy cells to recover from radiation. Most side effects go away within a few months of ending treatment. Remember that the type of radiation side effects you might have depends on the prescribed dose and schedule. Some people have few or no side effects, while others have quite a few. Any side effect you might have depends on the type and location of cancer, the dose of radiation being given, and your general health. It's very important to remember that every person reacts differently to treatment.
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