Radiation Therapy Is The Most Common Side Effect - 1005 Words

Radiation Therapy is the use of high energy radiation to damage cancer cells and prevent them from growing and dividing. More than 70% of cancer patients have undergone radiation therapy treatment (1). While radiation therapy today seems to be a very common medical treatment for cancer, there are still several risks a patient takes when choosing to undergo this treatment. There are obvious physical risks that happen that most people are aware of, however, many people do not think about the psychological damage that can occur as a side effect. Do the benefits outweigh the uncertain success of this treatment? Ultimately, the patient has to consider if the risk is worth the reward. There are a variety of physical side effects that occur when a patient receives radiation therapy. The occurrence and severity of these varies from patient to patient. However, fatigue is the most common side effect among cancer patients (2). Radiation therapy can take a huge toll on a person s body and ove rall health. Cancer related fatigue can affect a person s everyday life and activities. It has even been reported that 81% of patients that have completed radiation therapy still suffer from fatigue (2). Cancer related fatigue is something that is very difficult to treat while receiving radiation therapy. However, some treatments have been proven to help relieve symptoms. These include exercise and the use of relaxation techniques. Another common physical effect of radiation therapy isShow MoreRelatedCancer s Reputation Is Dismal And Menacing1155 Words   |  5 Pagesto combat this disease. Radiation Therapy, the treatment of cancer using X-rays and similar forms of radiation, is one of the most common treatment methods. Radiation therapy is given with curative intent either by eliminating a tumor, preventing cancer recurrence, or both. It kills cancer cells by damaging their DNA. 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