According to the American Cancer Society, more than 1.2 million Americans will be diagnosed with cancer this year. One treatment for cancer is radiation therapy, in which doctors aim a concentrated beam of high energy waves directly to the site of the cancer. The radiation damages the DNA of the targeted cells, killing or damaging the cells so they re unable to grow, multiply, or spread to other areas of the body. Normal cells can also be damaged in the process, but healthy cells are usually able to repair themselves.
Radiation therapy can produce some general side effects, such as fatigue and changes in appetite.
The treatment can make the skin more sensitive to the sun s rays, temperature extremes, and to irritants, such as deodorants, cosmetics, and perfumes. Other side effects can include hair loss after treatment for a brain tumor or hoarseness and swallowing difficulties after radiation for head and neck cancer. Protection from Radiation Therapy Side Effects Around the time of World War II, a drug called amifostine was developed to protect soldiers from radiation during a nuclear attack. Now, that same drug may be useful to help protect cancer patients from the side effects of radiation therapy. The drug is easily tolerated by patients and doesn t affect the outcome of radiation therapy.