Side Effects of Palliative Radiation Therapy to the Chest | Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Memorial Sloan Kettering nurse practitioner Carol Ann Milazzo describes side effects commonly associated with radiation therapy to the chest. Radiation can cause patients to feel temporarily fatigued. Because radiation travels through the skin, it may cause the treated area to look and feel sunburned – a condition called radiation dermatitis. Other common side effects may include discomfort with swallowing, nausea, cough, and shortness of breath.

Patients may want to ask their doctors about how to manage these potential side effects during and immediately after radiation.

Please visit www.mskcc.org/videos/side-effects-palliative-radiation-therapy-chest to watch this video.

If you have questions or concerns, contact your healthcare provider. A member of your care team will answer Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Outside those hours, you can leave a message or talk with another MSK provider. There is always a doctor or nurse on call. If you’re not sure how to reach your healthcare provider, call 212-639-2000.

For more resources, visit www.mskcc.org/pe to search our virtual library.

Side Effects of Palliative Radiation Therapy to the Chest - Last updated on September 1, 2013
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Last Updated

Sunday, September 1, 2013

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