Treatments usually begin one to two days after simulation to allow sufficient time for the team to complete specific treatment plans. Treatments are given Monday through Friday, allowing the weekend for normal tissue recovery. The length of the treatment course can vary from two to seven weeks. The side effects of radiation treatment vary from patient to patient. You may have no side effects or only a few mild ones through your course of treatment.
Some people have more serious problems with side effects.
The side effects that you have depend mostly on the treatment dose and the part of your body that is treated. Your general health can also affect how your body reacts to radiation therapy and whether you have side effects. The most common side effects are fatigue, skin changes, and loss of appetite. They can result from radiation to any treatment site. Other side effects are related to treatment of specific areas.