Side effects of radiation therapy

The side effects you have will vary depending on the dose of radiation and the length of the treatment.

Learn more about:

• Overview
• Changes to the vagina
• Fatigue
• Bladder and bowel changes
• Skin redness, soreness and swelling
• Hair loss
• Vaginal discharge
• Menopause

Overview

Most side effects of radiation therapy will be short-term and appear during or soon after treatment. Side effects can take several weeks to get better and some may continue for longer. Sometimes, side effects may not show up until months or years after treatment. These are called late effects.

See more on Radiation therapy.

Changes to the vagina

Treatment for cervical cancer often causes vaginal side effects. Surgery may shorten the vagina, and radiation therapy can narrow the vagina, causing thinning of the walls and dryness.

Scar tissue from treatment can leave the vagina shorter and narrower. This is called vaginal stenosis. It can make sexual penetration difficult and painful and also make vaginal examinations uncomfortable.

Your doctor or nurse may suggest you use a vaginal dilator to help keep the walls of the vagina open and supple. Dilators are tube-shaped devices made from plastic or silicone, designed to gently stretch the vagina. Some people find using a dilator challenging. Your doctor, nurse or physiotherapist can provide practical advice on how to use them.

See more on Sex, intimacy and cancer

Fatigue

Tiredness usually builds up slowly during the treatment, particularly near the end. It may last for some time after treatment ends.

See more on managing fatigue and cancer.

Bladder and bowel changes

You may pass urine more often or with more urgency, or feel a burning sensation. Try to drink plenty of water to dilute your urine. Bowel movements may be more frequent, urgent or loose (diarrhoea), or you may pass more wind than normal.

See more on bladder and bowel changes.

Skin redness, soreness and swelling

Radiation therapy may make the skin in the treatment area dry and itchy. Occasionally, your skin may look red and peel, like sunburn. The treatment team will recommend creams to use to ease any itching and make you more comfortable.

Hair loss

When radiation therapy is aimed at your pelvic area, you may lose your pubic hair. This hair may grow back after the treatment ends, but it will usually be thinner.

See more on hair loss.

Vaginal discharge

Radiation therapy may cause or increase vaginal discharge. Let your treatment team know if it smells different or has blood in it.

Menopause

If your ovaries have not been removed, radiation therapy can stop the ovaries producing hormones, which leads to early menopause. Your periods will stop, you will no longer be able to become pregnant, and you may have menopause symptoms. You can talk to your doctor about whether you can take menopausal hormone therapy (MHT).

See more on menopause.

→ READ MORE: Chemotherapy for cervical cancer

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