Radiation therapy can be used to treat many different types of cancers involving all parts of the body. Many people have few initial side effects but this may change as treatment continues; the effects are usually limited to the areas of the body that are being treated. The radiation to the different areas can cause long-term side effects to that specific area in both adults and children. Patients should discuss the potential side effects from radiation before the treatments begin and plan for ways to avoid or treat these effects.
Changes in the Brain
In children, radiation therapy to the brain may cause problems with learning and non-verbal skills--especially if the radiation is combined with chemotherapy that is administered into the spinal column, as noted on the American Cancer Society website. After radiation to the brain, adults may experience memory loss, problems with math and personality changes, according to the National Cancer Institute. Both adults and children may develop seizures, headaches or clumps of dead brain cells called radiation necrosis.
Changes in the Mouth
Therapy involving radiation to the mouth and jaw can cause long-term side effects such as dry mouth, cavities, or bone loss in the jaw, according to the National Cancer Institute. Radiation damages in the salivary glands cause both the dry mouth symptoms and cavities because of the decreased amount of saliva, as noted on the Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania website. Bone loss in the jaw can lead to problems with healing called osteoradionecrosis. Children can also have problems with maturation of teeth as a result of the radiation.
Hypothyroidism
As noted on the University of Florida Shands Cancer Center website, low levels of thyroid hormone, or hypothyroidism, occur in people who receive radiation to the neck. This can occur in up to one-third of patients. Children can develop hypothyroidism after radiation therapy as well. Monitoring thyroid levels every year can help detect any problems, according to the American Cancer Society.
Infertility
Radiation therapy can cause infertility problems in both men and women. In men, radiation involving the testicles can decrease sperm production; according to the American Cancer Society, this can occur in male children as well. In some cases, males who receive radiation to the testicles may be able to bank sperm before therapy to protect the ability to have children in the future. For women, radiation to the ovaries can lead to premature menopause or infertility. Female children who have not undergone puberty yet are less affected by radiation to the ovaries, according to the American Cancer Society. Radiation to the uterus can cause a small uterus in girls that may not function as well during pregnancy in the future.
Secondary Cancers
According to the University of Florida Shands Cancer Center website, radiation therapy can cause a second cancer at a later date. Acute myelogenous leukemia, chronic myelogenous leukemia and acute lymphoblastic leukemia have been associated with past radiation, as noted on the American Cancer Society website. Development of a secondary cancer is more common in children and young people who are treated for Hodgkin's lymphoma. According to the American Cancer Society, these secondary cancers tend to occur in the area of the original radiation therapy; as these children grow into adulthood, they are also at higher risk of developing other cancers like breast and colon cancer.
References
- National Cancer Institute: Late Radiation Therapy Side Effects
- American Cancer Society: Childhood Cancer: Late Effects of Cancer Treatment
- Cancer Supportive Care: Cancer Therapy Possible Latent Side-Effects
- University of Florida Shands Cancer Center: Side Effects of Radiation Therapy
- Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania: Effects of Radiotherapy on the Oral Cavity
