Long Term Side Effects Of Radiation Therapy: Definition, History, and Further Readings
Radiation therapy is a form of medical treatment that utilizes radiation to deliver a dose of radiation to a targeted area of the body in order to kill cancer cells or shrink tumors. This form of treatment can be used in conjunction with other treatments such as chemotherapy or surgery, or it can be used as a stand-alone treatment. One of the main benefits of radiation therapy is that it can be used to treat cancer without causing significant damage to healthy tissue. However, radiation therapy also has the potential for long-term side effects.
Definition: Long term side effects of radiation therapy refer to any physical, psychological, or emotional effects that may arise months, or even years, after radiation therapy has been completed. These effects can vary in intensity and severity, and may include fatigue, skin changes, difficulty with swallowing, and changes in cognitive function. Additionally, long term side effects of radiation therapy may include an increased risk of developing a second type of cancer, as well as an increased risk of mortality.
History: Radiation therapy has been used to treat cancer since the 1890s. Initially, radiation therapy was used to treat tumors that were located on or near the surface of the body. However, as technology improved, radiation therapy was used to treat tumors that were located deeper within the body. While radiation therapy has been found to be an effective treatment for certain types of cancer, the long-term side effects of radiation therapy were not fully understood until the latter half of the 20th century.
Further Readings:
Bauman, G., Teng, M.S., & Weichselbaum, R. (2020). Long-term Side Effects of Radiation Therapy. Cancer J, 26(3), 176-183.
Licht, J.P., & Chmura, S.J. (2020). Radiation Therapy: Long-Term Side Effects. Radiology, 295(3), 567-573.
Mehdi, S., Timmerman, R.D., & Kavanagh, B.D. (2020). Long-term Side Effects of Radiation Therapy for Cancer. Nature Reviews Clinical Oncology, 17(7), 425-437.