Throughout each patient's treatment, the radiation oncologist will regularly check on the effects of the treatment. The physician may order tests to confirm that the radiation is causing as little damage to normal cells as possible. An example of the type of test would be a routine blood test to check the levels of white blood cells and platelets, which may be lower than normal during treatment. The side effects of radiation treatment vary from patient to patient. A patient may experience no side effects or only a few mild ones through a course of treatment.
Some individuals have more serious difficulties with side effects.
The side effects depend mostly on the treatment dose and the area treated. A patient's general health can also affect how the body reacts to radiation therapy and whether they experience side effects. Before beginning treatment, a patient should ask the physician and nurse about side effects, how long they might last, and how serious they might be. The most common side effects are fatigue, skin changes, and loss of appetite and can result from radiation to any treatment site. Other side effects are related to treatment of specific areas.