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What side effects are there?

There are side effects from radiation therapy. They generally happen to the skin and tissues in the treatment area. The radiation oncologist, radiation nurses, and therapists will discuss specific side effects with you when you start your treatments.

One side effect of radiation therapy is that it may cause your blood cell counts to lower. To monitor this, periodic blood testing will be done.

If your side effects are bothering you, or you are experiencing problems you did not expect, please tell any member of your radiation therapy team. This includes the nurses, therapists, nutritionists, and physicians.

A common misconception is that a side effect of radiation therapy is it makes you radioactive. This is not true if you are receiving your radiotherapy from a machine. If you receive brachytherapy and are hospitalized for insertion of cesium or radioactive sources, you will be kept in a protected room until the sources are removed or no longer pose any hazard to family or friends. This is because of the radioactivity that has been inserted into you (like a pen in a pocket) – not because you have become radioactive.