I've heard people say radiation can "cook" you. What can you tell me about this cancer treatment and its side effects?

Radiation therapy is the use of high-energy waves, called radiation, to treat disease, including many types of cancer. Radiation therapy is sometimes called radiotherapy, x-ray therapy, or irradiation.

In radiation therapy, doctors use special machines or substances to aim high doses of radiation at the cancer. The radiation kills the cancer cells or keeps them from growing.

Radiation also can damage or kill normal cells in the treated area. To protect normal cells, doctors carefully limit the doses of radiation and spread them out over time. They also shield as much normal tissue as possible during radiation therapy.

Radiation may cause side effects, depending on the dose, the area of the body being treated, and the patient's general health. The most common side effects are fatigue and skin changes. Other side effects are related to the specific area being treated. For example, radiation to the head may cause temporary or permanent hair loss. Radiation that affects the stomach or intestines might cause an upset stomach, nausea, diarrhea, and other symptoms.

Most side effects go away in time. If a side effect is especially troublesome, the doctor may prescribe a break in treatment or change the treatment in some way.

More than half of all cancer patients are treated with some form of radiation therapy, either alone or in combination with other treatments. The benefits of radiation therapy usually outweigh the side effects.

For more information, call the Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER and ask for a copy of "Radiation Therapy and You."

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