MSK nurse practitioner Carol Ann Milazzo describes side effects commonly associated with radiation therapy to the bone.
Radiation can make you feel temporarily fatigued, or have a transient worsening of pain. Because radiation travels through your skin, it can make the treated area look and feel sunburned. This condition is called radiation dermatitis.
You may want to ask your doctors about how to manage these potential side effects during and right after radiation.
Side Effects of Palliative Radiation Therapy to the Bone
Radiation treatment can cause you to feel fatigue, regardless of the site of your treatment.
Cancer-related fatigue is very common, though we don't know the exact mechanism of it. It is temporary, and you will regain some of your energy within a few weeks after you finish your treatment.
Radiation must travel through your skin before it reaches its target. In this process, it may irritate your skin, causing it to look and feel sunburned. This is called radiation dermatitis. It happens when the radiation beams both enter or leave your skin.
If you are having radiation to a bone, you might have pain for a while. This is because radiation has caused swelling in and around the bone.
Extra pain medication may help. Tell your doctor so that they can adjust your pain medications. This should improve quickly.
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