How Does Radiation Change Your Body?

Radiation dermatitis is the most commonly reported side effect of radiation therapy. This is most common when the target is close to the skin. For cancers that are deep in the body (prostate, many brain tumors, many lung cancers, pancreas, liver, bladder, etc.), skin damage usually does not occur. This condition arises within a few days or weeks of starting radiation therapy, and can cause symptoms like:

• Skin redness or pinkness, known as erythema
• Dry, peeling skin
• Blisters or skin ulcers

Though radiation dermatitis typically clears up within a few weeks after treatment ends, it can infrequently cause permanent discoloration and cosmetic changes such as red spidery marks on your skin caused by small broken blood vessels.

Radiation therapy can cause hair loss on the part of the body that’s being treated. In other words, if your scalp is not being treated, you will not lose hair on your scalp.

For some patients who receive high doses of radiation therapy, hair loss is permanent. But for most patients, hair usually grows back a few months after treatment has finished. However, it may be thinner or have a different texture.

Your doctor can give you a sense of whether to expect hair loss and whether it is expected to be temporary or permanent. For patients receiving chemotherapy, certain drugs are more likely to cause hair loss which should be discussed with the medical oncologist.

Damage to the eyelashes from radiation occurs only in the rare circumstance when radiation is delivered very close to the eye and it depends on the specifics of the radiation being delivered. Your doctor can tell you whether this would be an expected side effect from treatment and whether it is expected to be temporary or permanent.

Patients undergoing radiation therapy may experience nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, typically only when the radiation is directed at the abdomen or portions of the pelvis. Weight loss can also occur in patients whose sense of taste is affected which typically only occurs in patients receiving radiation to the mouth and throat.

These side effects can contribute to unintentional weight loss. Infrequently, radiation oncology patients gain rather than lose weight usually due to inactivity related to fatigue. Weight gain can also occur from medications such as steroids, often used with surgery or cancer therapies.

Another rare event is visual change or damage from radiation. This is seen only when treatment is required in or around the eye, or in associated neurologic structures. Your radiation oncologist will use special techniques to minimize such risks.

Swelling, also known as lymphedema, occurs when there is impaired flow of lymph in the body. Lymphedema is rarely a result of radiation alone and can be associated with pain, skin changes, and decreased range of motion.

Lymphoedema is characterized by chronic swelling in the arms or legs. If left untreated, it can cause:

• Itchy, red, warm skin
• Rashes
• Wounds that won’t heal
• Thickening or hardening of the skin
• Hair loss

Lymphoedema may occur during radiotherapy. Or, it may occur years after treatment has ended.

When patients with head and neck cancers receive radiotherapy (often given with chemotherapy), there can be damage to oral tissue, salivary glands, and bone. This can happen in the form of irritated mucosa and a reduction in the amount of salvia present. These changes can alter the healthy balance of bacteria in the mouth and can contribute to tooth decay. Radiation can also increase the risk of delayed or impaired healing following dental surgery later in life.

Good dental hygiene, fluoride use, and regular cleanings can reduce the risks of long-term dental issues.

Rather than nitpick your flaws, celebrate your strengths. You may even write a list of things you like about yourself. This list can include physical qualities — your dimples or eyes, for example — as well as personality traits like loyalty and humor.

Though it can be hard to stop negative self-talk altogether, mindfulness goes a long way. Whenever you notice yourself dwelling on negative thoughts, remember to pause and reframe your internal dialogue by using positive, forward-focused language.

In the wake of radiotherapy, many patients tend to compare their current bodies to their pre-cancer selves. But rather than focus on what you’ve lost, you need to focus on what you’ve gained during your cancer journey — whether that be mental strength, spirituality, or a closer relationship with your family.

Before admonishing your body for gaining weight or losing muscle definition, remember what it’s been through. Your body has fought a life-threatening disease and endured months — possibly even years — of intense treatment. Doesn’t it deserve some slack?

To cultivate a positive relationship with your body, you need to respect it. This looks different for different people. You may choose to respect your body by feeding it nourishing foods, exercising, meditating, or taking time away from social media and television.