Side Effects Of Radiation For Pancreatic Cancer

Radiation therapy side effects.

Side effects of radiation for pancreatic cancer.

While chemotherapy medications are designed to destroy pancreatic cancer cells they can also damage healthy cells at the same time. This is because it often doesn t cause symptoms until after it has spread to other organs. Side effects of chemotherapy. Pancreatic cancer treatment options are chosen based on the extent of the cancer.

Surgery is the main treatment for most pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors nets but radiation therapy may be an option for those who can t have surgery for some reason. Other potential side effects of surgery include pneumonia cardiac problems and pulmonary embolism. Getting radiation therapy is much like getting an x ray but the radiation is stronger. Exposure to high radiation leads to tiredness.

Other side effects depend on the part of the body that is being treated. Many people who get radiation therapy experience fatigue. Patients may feel some abdominal discomfort toward the end of the treatment series. Some common side effects of radiation therapy used for pancreatic cancer are.

Pancreatic cancer is seldom detected at its early stages when it s most curable. Skin changes redness blistering or peeling nausea and vomiting. This can last up to several weeks post treatment also. Both radiation therapy and chemotherapy damage some normal cells along with cancer cells.

Some of the most common side effects of radiation include the following. Radiation therapy has side effects because it not only kills or slows the growth of cancer cells it can also affect nearby healthy cells. As a result you might experience side effects such as. Side effects of radiation therapy will depend mainly on the size of the area being treated the specific area or organs being treated the total dose of radiation and the treatment schedule.

Options may include surgery chemotherapy radiation therapy or a combination of these. Radiation therapy uses high energy rays such as x rays or radioactive particles to kill cancer cells. Depending on the type and dosage of radiation given tolerance of the patient and stage of cancer radiation therapy can have a lot of side effects on the patients in the treatment of pancreatic cancer. Mild skin redness is possible but not common in pancreatic cancer treatment.

Each treatment lasts only a few minutes although. Every day doctors learn more about how new treatments such as immunotherapies could help treat pancreatic cancer more effectively. It may also be given after surgery in some cases if there s a chance some of the tumor was not removed and is causing. The type of radiation most often used to treat pancreatic cancer known as external beam radiation therapy focuses radiation from a source outside of the body on the cancer.

Side effects can include nausea vomiting appetite loss weight loss and fatigue as well as toxicity to. The most common side effects of radiation therapy for pancreatic cancer are.