Radiation Therapy For Uterine Cancer Side Effects

Women taking progesterone may experience fatigue and changes in appetite and weight and they may retain fluid. Other women have few or none at all.

Long Term Side Effects Of Radiation Therapy
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Side effects can happen with any type of treatment for uterine cancer but everyones experience is different.

Radiation therapy for uterine cancer side effects. Everyone is different and the side effects vary from person to person. Side effects of hormone therapy for uterine cancer. For endometrial cancer the radiation is usually directed at the entire pelvis.

Most side effects. Side effects of radiation depend on dose and may include fatigue nausea vomiting diarrhea or other problems with digestion. Other side effects depend on the part of the body that is being treated.

Two types of radiation treatments may used for uterine sarcoma. Some women have many side effects. The objective of radiation therapy is to kill uterine cancer cells for a maximum probability of cure or palliation with a minimum of side effects.

Because the radiation therapy is administered to the pelvis though there are certain side effects that are common among these patients. Many people who get radiation therapy experience fatigue. Radiation therapy may also be given as implants temporarily inserted into the vagina a procedure known as brachytherapy.

Hormone therapy used in treating uterine cancer can cause a number of side effects. They are usually mild and last for a few days or weeks. The side effects of radiation therapy may include fatigue diarrhea urinary problems and vaginal scarring or dryness.

External beam radiation therapy. Doctors may advise their patients not to have intercourse during radiation therapy. Diarrhea is common but usually can be controlled with over the counter medicines.

Learn more about possible side effects. Premenopausal women may have changes in their menstrual periods. Radiation therapy uses high energy radiation such as x rays to kill cancer cells.

Common side effects of radiation therapy include tiredness upset stomach or loose stools. Some women may have dryness itching tightening and burning in the vagina. Internal radiation therapy or brachytherapy.

Severe fatigue which may not start until about 2 weeks after treatment begins is also common. Side effects of internal radiotherapy brachytherapy tend to happen about 1 to 2 weeks after treatment. Sometimes both brachytherapy and external beam radiation therapy are used.

Radiation therapy to the pelvis is commonly used to treat women with lower gastrointestinal tract cancers as well as gynecologic cancers such as cervical cancer ovarian cancer and uterine cancer. Radiation therapy can be used to prevent local cancer recurrences after surgery adjuvant therapy or for the treatment of recurrent cancer. Radiation therapy has side effects because it not only kills or slows the growth of cancer cells it can also affect nearby healthy cells.

Side effects of radiation therapy short term side effects. You may not have all of the effects mentioned. During radiation therapy the healthcare team protects healthy cells in the treatment area as much as possible.

Uterus Cancer Ultrasound Images