“What are some side effects of radiotherapy?”
The best treatment option for me, according to my doctor, is radiotherapy for my chondrosarcoma. But we didn't really discuss a lot of the side effects associated with it. What should I be expecting from this therapy, side effect-wise?
2 Answers
Depending on the location of treatment. If it is in the pelvis, patient will have nausea vomiting diarrhea because small and large bowels are in the path of beam. Patient will also have skin reaction because chrondrosarcoma requires high dose of radiation treatment (at least 6000 cGy) to control this tumor. Long-term: patient may have long term low blood count and subcutaneous fibrosis in treatment area. The best information should be discussion and ask questions regarding your situation with your Oncologist. The doctor knows what you receives what type of chemotherapy and location of your tumor and what technique the doctor will uses to treat you. Please discuss with your Oncologist. Do not be afraid.
First, your doctor is probably correct. With appropriate radiation, we can now save people from having an amputation.
For your question about side effects, it would depend greatly on where the tumor was exactly. Radiation is a focused, local treatment, so its side effects are limited to the area treated. Often, a chondrosarcoma on a distal appendage, this greatly limits the short term side effects other than skin irritation and fatigue. Muscle can take very high doses of radiation without much in the way of side effects. Chondrosarcoma by definition is near a joint. This can mean that the joint can become stiffer over time - off set to some degree by exercise and moving the joint. The biggest long term side effect that we worry about is a tumor caused by the radiation itself. This is very uncommon and is dependent upon the age of the patient (the younger the patient, the longer they have to develop a second cancer). You should talk to your RadOnc about what that risk might be for you.
For your question about side effects, it would depend greatly on where the tumor was exactly. Radiation is a focused, local treatment, so its side effects are limited to the area treated. Often, a chondrosarcoma on a distal appendage, this greatly limits the short term side effects other than skin irritation and fatigue. Muscle can take very high doses of radiation without much in the way of side effects. Chondrosarcoma by definition is near a joint. This can mean that the joint can become stiffer over time - off set to some degree by exercise and moving the joint. The biggest long term side effect that we worry about is a tumor caused by the radiation itself. This is very uncommon and is dependent upon the age of the patient (the younger the patient, the longer they have to develop a second cancer). You should talk to your RadOnc about what that risk might be for you.
