Although the side effects of radiation therapy can be difficult, they can usually be treated or controlled. It may also help to know that, in most cases, side effects are not permanent. Loss of fertility may be temporary or permanent, depending on if the testes or ovaries received radiation and the patient's age. For men, sperm banking before treatment may be a choice. Women's menstrual periods may stop, and they may have hot flashes and vaginal dryness.
Menstrual periods are more likely to return for younger women.
The National Cancer Institute booklet Radiation Therapy and You has helpful information about radiation therapy and managing its side effects. Chemotherapy The side effects of chemotherapy depend mainly on the specific drugs and the doses the patient receives. As with other types of treatment, side effects may vary from person to person. Anticancer drugs generally affect cells that divide rapidly. In addition to cancer cells, these include blood cells, which fight infection, help the blood to clot, and carry oxygen to all parts of the body.