Regarding short-term side effects, during therapy and in the months after therapy, 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.
Depending on the treatment area and the given radiotherapy dose, location specific early 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.
- Fatigue
- Skin reaction
- Temporary hair loss
- Nausea and vomiting
- Headache
- Ear pain
⬆ 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.
- Fatigue
- Skin reaction
- Temporary hair loss
- Nausea and vomiting
- Dry mouth
- Sore mouth
- Thick mucus in the mouth or throat
- Taste change
- Throat changes, such as trouble swallowing, hoarseness or soreness during swallowing
- Less appetite
⬆ 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.
- Fatigue
- Skin reaction
- Nausea and vomiting
- Throat / esophagus changes, such as trouble swallowing or soreness during swallowing
- Dry cough
- Shortness of breath
- Less appetite
⬆ 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.
- Fatigue
- Skin reaction
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea or loose stools
- Bowel discomfort
- Less appetite
⬆ 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.
- Fatigue
- Skin reaction
- Temporary hair loss
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea or loose stools
- Bowel discomfort
- More frequent and/or painful urination
- Less appetite
⬆ 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.
- Fatigue
- Skin reaction
- Swelling of irradiated area
- Swelling of the limb around and below the irradiated area (edema)
- Stiffness in irradiated joint
⬆ back