Undergoing radiation therapy may cause these side-effects

Written by Editorial Team | Published : May 2, 2019 5:43 PM IST

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Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy is basically a treatment option for different types of cancers. It involves use of high-energy x-rays to destroy cancer cells. These rays actually break up the DNA of cancer cells disrupting their growth and division. This therapy can even potentially kill the cancer cells. There are two types of radiation therapy namely external beam radiation therapy and internal beam radiation therapy. The former includes providing the beam of radiation onto the affected area by an external machine. However, the latter involves placing a radioactive substance in the cancerous tissue. Before radiation therapy, a patient needs to undergo a CT scan. This is basically to find the exact location of tumour. This therapy may be used alone or with other treatment options like surgery or chemotherapy. Radiation therapy may cause certain side-effects. Read on to know about them.

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Healing

Problem in healing: Radiation therapy can potentially lead to dilated capillary blood vessels that is characterized by purple appearance on the skin and can delay wound healing.

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Hypothyroidism-2

Hormone problems: Radiation therapy can cause hormonal issues like memory loss, hypothyroidism, dry mouth, and infertility.