Surgery often does not get all of the tumor that is being to be removed. Radiation therapy uses high energy rays to damage cancer cells and stop them from growing. Some side effects of radiation therapy are fatigue and redness and dryness of the skin exposed to the radiation. The effects of the radiation to the skin are only temporary and will generally go away during the recovery cycle. Doctors indicate rest is most important, patients must also stay active.
Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells.
The drugs are either given orally or by injection into a vein or muscle. This is systemic therapy, where the drug runs through the blood stream and entire system. The side effects of chemotherapy depend mainly on the drugs received and vary from person to person. The anticancer drugs affect rapidly dividing cells, in general. This includes blood cells, which means that patients are more likely to get infections, bruise or bleed easily.