Side Effects Of Radiation Treatment For Uterine Cancer

The objective of adjuvant radiation therapy is to kill cancer cells that persist after surgery for a maximum probability of cure with a minimum of side effects.

Side effects of radiation treatment for uterine cancer.

Radiation therapy may also be given as implants temporarily inserted into the vagina a procedure known as brachytherapy. You may not have all of the effects mentioned. Diarrhea is common but usually can be controlled with over the counter medicines. Side effects depend on the type of radiation therapy used.

Treatment of stage iii uterine cancer with surgery followed by adjuvant brachytherapy and or external beam radiation therapy has been reported to cure approximately 50 of patients. They are usually mild and last for a few days or weeks. 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. Women undergoing radiation therapy for cervical or uterine cancer have a much higher incidence of serious side effects than previously realized according to results from a new clinical trial.

Other women have few or none at all. Side effects of internal radiotherapy brachytherapy tend to happen about 1 to 2 weeks after treatment. Side effects can include. Side effects of internal radiotherapy.

Some women have many side effects. Learn more about possible side effects. The side effects of radiation therapy may include fatigue diarrhea urinary problems and vaginal scarring or dryness. Common side effects of radiation therapy include tiredness upset stomach or loose stools.

This means there are fewer side effects. Many people who get radiation therapy experience fatigue. Other side effects depend on the part of the body that is being treated. Side effects tend to be worse if you re having chemo along with the radiation.

This information may help women and their clinicians more accurately weigh the potential benefits versus harms of adjuvant therapy said the trial s. Side effects of radiation therapy short term side effects. Because the radiation therapy is administered to the pelvis though there are certain side effects that are common among these patients. 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 can happen with any type of treatment for uterine cancer but everyone s experience is different. During radiation therapy the healthcare team protects healthy cells in the treatment area as much as possible. For endometrial cancer the radiation is usually directed at the entire pelvis.