National Cancer Institute National Cancer Institute
U.S. National Institutes of Health National Cancer Institute
Send to Printer
Radiation Therapy and You: Support for People With Cancer
    Posted: 04/20/2007
Radiation Therapy Side Effects At-A-Glance

Radiation therapy side effects depend on the part of your body being treated. You can use the chart below to see which side effects might affect you. Find the part of your body being treated in the column on the left, then read across the row to see the side effects. A checkmark means that you may get this side effect. Ask your doctor or nurse about your chances of getting each side effect.

Talk to your radiation therapy team about your chances of getting side effects. Show them the chart below.

  • Find the part of your body being treated in the top row.
  • Read down the column.
  • A checkmark means you may get the side effect listed.
  Brain Breast Chest Head and Neck Pelvic Area Rectum Stomach and Abdomen
Diarrhea 1        
Fatigue 2
Hair Loss 3 (on the part of the body being treated)
Mouth Changes            
Nausea and Vomiting 4        
Sexual and Fertility Changes 5          
Skin Changes 6
Throat Changes 7          
Urinary and Bladder Changes 8        
Other Side Effects Headache Blurry vision Tenderness Swelling Cough Shortness of breath Earaches Taste changes      


Table of Links

1http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/radiation-therapy-and-you/page8#SE2
2http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/radiation-therapy-and-you/page8#SE3
3http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/radiation-therapy-and-you/page8#SE4
4http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/radiation-therapy-and-you/page8#SE5
5http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/radiation-therapy-and-you/page8#SE7
6http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/radiation-therapy-and-you/page8#SE8
7http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/radiation-therapy-and-you/page8#SE9
8http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/radiation-therapy-and-you/page8#SE10