Table of Contents Hodgkin's Disease Risk Factors Symptoms of Hodgkins Disease Diagnosis and Staging of Hodgkin's Disease Treatment of Hodgkin's Disease Hodgkins Disease Treatment - Getting a Second Opinion Preparing for Treatment of Hodgkin's Disease Methods of Treating Hodgkin's Disease Hodgkin's Disease Clinical Trials Side Effects of Hodgkin's Disease Treatment Radiation Therapy for Hodgkin's Disease Hodgkin's Disease Treatment - Chemotherapy Nutrition During Hodgkin's Disease Treatment Recovery and Outlook Hodgkin's Disease Followup Care Support for People with Hodgkin's Disease Keeping on top of Your Condition

Radiation Therapy for Hodgkin's Disease

The side effects of radiation depend on the treatment dose and the part of the body that is treated. During radiation therapy, people are likely to become extremely tired, especially in the later weeks of treatment. Rest is important, but doctors usually advise patients to try to stay as active as they can.

It is common to lose hair in the treated area and for the skin to become red, dry, tender, and itchy. There may also be permanent darkening or "bronzing" of the skin in the treated area.

When the chest and neck are treated, patients may have a dry, sore throat and some trouble swallowing. Sometimes, they have shortness of breath or a dry cough. Radiation therapy to the abdomen may cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or urinary discomfort. Often, changes in diet or medicine can ease these problems.

Radiation therapy also may cause a decrease in the number of white blood cells, cells that help protect the body against infection, or platelets, cells that help the blood to clot. If that happens, patients need to be careful to avoid possible sources of infection or injury. The doctor monitors a patient's blood count very carefully during radiation treatment. If necessary, treatment may have to be postponed to let the blood counts return to normal.

Although the side effects of radiation therapy can be difficult, they can usually be treated or controlled. It may also help to know that, in most cases, side effects are not permanent. However, patients may want to discuss with their doctor the possible long-term effects of radiation treatment on fertility (the ability to produce children) and the increased chance of second cancers after treatment is over. Loss of fertility may be temporary or permanent, depending on if the testes or ovaries received radiation and the patient's age. For men, sperm banking before treatment may be a choice. Women's menstrual periods may stop, and they may have hot flashes and vaginal dryness. Menstrual periods are more likely to return for younger women.