What Are The Side Effects Of Radiation Therapy?

Radiation Fibrosis

A patient may develop radiation fibrosis as an adverse side effect of radiation therapy. Radiation fibrosis is when a patient incurs extensive damage and injury to the soft tissues in their body. Radiation fibrosis is most common among individuals who undergo radiation therapy to treat a malignancy in their head or neck. Any type of soft tissue in the radiation field can develop radiation fibrosis. This includes the blood vessels, skin, nerves, connective tissues, and muscles.

A patient may experience trismus, a restriction in how far they can open their mouth, and problems swallowing due to fibrosis of the throat muscles. They may develop lymphedema of their neck and head when the lymph nodes and vessels in these areas develop radiation fibrosis because they can no longer effectively drain extra fluid from the tissues. Cervical dystonia, the spasm, pain, and tightness in the neck can develop due to radiation fibrosis in the muscles controlling the neck's movement.