Each year, approximately 22,000 new cases of brain cancer are diagnosed in the United States, according to the National Cancer Institute. While radiation treatment is often successful at destroying brain tumors, radiotherapy on the brain also carries a risk of side effects.
Types of Side Effects
Possible side effects of radiation treatment on the brain include hair loss, skin irritation, fatigue, hearing problems, nausea, vomiting and changes in appetite, according to the American Brain Tumor Association. If radiation causes your brain to swell, other side effects are possible, like headaches, memory problems and difficulty speaking.
Time Frame
While some may develop immediately following your treatment, many side effects of radiation treatment to your brain take up to two weeks to develop, according to Radiology Info. Most side effects subside after treatment ends, but some side effects do not occur until one to two years after treatment.
Hair Loss and Skin Irritation
Cutting your hair short, switching to satin pillowcases and an infant comb and only using a small amount of baby shampoo can help minimize hair loss and skin irritation caused by radiation therapy to the brain.
Medications to Treat
If brain swelling or edema occurs, corticosteroid medications may be able to alleviate the inflammation and decrease your symptoms, according to the American Brain Tumor Association. There are also prescription medications available to help you decrease symptoms of nausea and vomiting.
Risks
In some cases, radiation treatment of the brain causes death of healthy brain cells, which produces serious side effects years after treatment, such as stroke-like symptoms, memory loss and decreased cognitive functioning, according to the American Cancer Society. Infrequently, radiation therapy leads to the development of a secondary brain tumor later in life.
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