According to MayoClinic.com, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States as of 2010. Even with therapy--surgery, chemotherapy and radiation--the survival rate after five years is less than 15 percent, according to Dr. Shaneli Fernando and colleagues in an article on the Cancer News website. Radiation therapy can be used in patients with local disease or in combination with other therapies. Radiation therapy has some risks associated with radiation in general; there are also some risks that are specific to radiation for lung cancer.
Fatigue
Fatigue is common with radiation therapy; according to the American Cancer Society, the exact cause for the fatigue is not fully known. Sometimes it is related to anemia or low blood cell counts, medications, or to substances from the cancer itself. The fatigue will improve after the radiation therapy is completed; the patient often returns to baseline in a few weeks.
Skin Reactions
The skin in the area that is being treated with radiation often has a mild reaction like redness or peeling. According to the American Cancer Society, the radiation may cause the skin to become darker because of changes in the pigmented cells in the skin. During radiation therapy, the patient should avoid sun exposure because the skin may be more likely to burn. The physician or nurse can suggest skin products to manage skin changes.
Esophagitis
Since the esophagus is located in the chest, it can receive radiation during therapy for lung cancer, notes Dr. Fernando. This exposure to radiation can cause esophagitis, or inflammation of the esophagus, which can make it difficult to swallow. The symptoms usually improve a few weeks after the end of the radiation treatments.
Pulmonary Fibrosis
Another risk of radiation therapy for lung cancer is the development of scar tissue or fibrosis in the lungs. If large amounts of the lungs are being treated with radiation, there can be a decrease in lung function which can lead to chronic shortness of breath, notes the American Cancer Society.
Radiation Pneumonitis
Radiation to the chest for lung cancer can cause inflammation in the lungs called radiation pneumonitis. As noted on the Cancer News website, this is one of the most serious risks of radiation therapy for lung cancer and can develop any time from one to nine months after therapy. Radiation pneumonitis occurs in up to 30 percent of patients. Patients experience shortness of breath, low-grade fevers and chest pain.
References
- Cancer News: 3-D Conformal Radiation therapy for Lung Cancer: Potential Side Effects and Management
- American Cancer Society: Side Effects When Certain Areas are Treated
- American Cancer Society: Possible Side Effects of Radiation Therapy
- MayoClinic.com: Lung Cancer--Treatment
- American Society for Radiation Oncology: Radiation Therapy for Lung Cancers
