Brain tumors may be treated through surgery, drugs or by irradiation. When a patient receives brain radiation for cancer treatment, this irradiation may either be externally applied or, according to the Merck Manuals Online Medical Library, internally implanted close to the tumor, a process known as brachytherapy. When using a machine outside the body to administer the radiation treatment, the beam of radiation may be localized to a specific tumor area if the tumor is well demarcated. The complications of radiation therapy vary depending upon the dose and the duration of therapy.
Acute Radiation Toxicity
As noted by the Merck Manuals Online Medical Library, patients receiving brain irradiation are likely to suffer from acute symptoms of toxicity during the earlier sessions of treatment. These symptoms include headache, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness and blurring of visions. Acute radiation toxicity is treated with corticosteroids such as dexamethasone.
Scalp and Hair Complications
MedlinePlus states that patients undergoing radiation therapy usually start to lose their hair approximately two weeks after the radiation treatment. Hair may or may not grow back depending on the degree of damage to the hair follicles. To reduce the hair loss, MedlinePlus advises the patients to wash their hair no more than once a week with a gentle product during the first two weeks of treatment and to omit the use of shampoo completely after that. Patients are also advised to dry their hair gently with a towel and avoid using hair dryers. Radiation treatments to the brain also may make the scalp flaky and very dry. The scalp may also become very red and tanned. The treatment could cause the skin to break open. Patients are instructed to avoid self-medicating any scalp issues and should seek advice from their treating physicians.
Late Delayed Neurotoxicity
There are also long-term potential complications arising from brain radiation therapies, notes the Merck Manuals Online Medical Library. Adults surviving brain tumors could suffer from brain atrophy as a complication of whole brain irradiation. Brain atrophy manifests by a progressive loss of cognitive functions and memory loss and is medically known as dementia and unsteady gait.
