Regarding long-term side effects, your child’s radiation oncologist will discuss which side-effects can be relevant for your child. Overall, it is difficult to exactly predict which side-effects will actually present themselves and if so, with what severity. In various treatment centers, there are late-effects outpatient clinics that follow children and adults regarding potential side-effects until many years after the end of treatment.
Depending on the treatment area and the given radiotherapy dose, location specific long-term side effects of radiotherapy may include:
Location
|
Brain
|
Head and Neck
|
Chest
|
|
Abdomen
|
Pelvis
|
Extremities
|
Possible side effects
One or more of these side effects might happen, but this depends on several factors, such as location and radiotherapy dose. Your radiation oncologist will discuss which side effects may be expected.
- Cognitive effects; challenges with think processes and learning disabilities
- Central endocrine deficiencies (deficiencies in central hormone production for growth, pubertal development and fertility, weight control, adrenal hormones, thyroid hormones)
- Vascular problems
- Hearing problems
- Vision problems
- Eye problems
- Cataract
- Permanent hair loss
- Secondary tumors / cancers
⬆ back
One or more of these side effects might happen, but this depends on several factors, such as location and radiotherapy dose. Your radiation oncologist will discuss which side effects may be expected
- Dry mouth or throat
- Dental problems
- Vascular problems
- Hearing problems
- Eye problems
- Central endocrine deficiencies (deficiencies in central hormone production for growth, pubertal development and fertility, weight control, adrenal hormones, thyroid hormones)
- Thyroid problems
- Growth inhibition of facial, skull or spinal bones
- Spinal bone problems
- Permanent hair loss
- Secondary tumors / cancers
⬆ back
One or more of these side effects might happen, but this depends on several factors, such as location and radiotherapy dose. Your radiation oncologist will discuss which side effects may be expected.
- Lung and breathing problems
- Heart problems
- Vascular problems
- Thyroid problems
- Growth inhibition of rib or spinal bones
- Spinal bone problems
- Permanent hair loss
- Secondary tumors / cancers
⬆ back
One or more of these side effects might happen, but this depends on several factors, such as location and radiotherapy dose. Your radiation oncologist will discuss which side effects may be expected.
- Lung and breathing problems
- Heart problems
- Vascular problems
- Kidney problems
- Liver problems
- Bowel / digestive system problems
- Spleen dysfunction
- Fertility problems
- Pregnancy problems
- Growth inhibition of spinal bones
- Spinal bone problems
- Secondary tumors / cancers
⬆ back
One or more of these side effects might happen, but this depends on several factors, such as location and radiotherapy dose. Your radiation oncologist will discuss which side effects may be expected.
- Vascular problems
- Nerve tissue problems
- Kidney problems
- Liver problems
- Bowel / digestive system problems
- Vaginal problems
- Bladder / urinary problems
- Fertility problems
- Testicular dysfunction
- Ovarian dysfunction
- Pregnancy problems
- Growth inhibition of spinal and pelvic bones
- Spinal and pelvic bone problems
- Skin fibrosis
- Secondary tumors / cancers
⬆ back
One or more of these side effects might happen, but this depends on several factors, such as location and radiotherapy dose. Your radiation oncologist will discuss which side effects may be expected.
- Vascular problems
- Long bone growth inhibition
- Bone problems
- Swelling of the limb (edema)
- Stiffness in irradiated joint
- Skin fibrosis
- Secondary tumors / cancers
⬆ back