As the treatment involves killing the cancer cells, radiotherapy may also damage some healthy cells around the area being treated. This may lead to some side effects, such as:
Soreness and redness of skin
Weakness or feeling tired
Hair loss in the area being treated
Nausea Loss of appetite
A sore mouth
Diarrhoea
Most of these side effects are manageable and can be treated or prevented with proper care. Many effects pass on their own after treatment stops. External radiotherapy is a safe treatment and the radiation only passes through your body.
The radiation from an implant or injections may stay in the body for a few days, but that also passes out. The patient needs to stay in hospital and avoid close contact with other people for a few days as a precaution.