VENUS CRIA MICHELE ATHENA REFAMA

BSN 2A
NCM 109 PEDIA

RADIATION THERAPY:

1. Immediate side effects:

- These side effects tend to be short-term, mild, and treatable. They’re usually gone within a
few weeks after treatment ends. The most common early side effects are fatigue (feeling
tired) and skin changes. Other early side effects usually are related to the area being
treated, such as hair loss and mouth problems when radiation treatment is given to this
area.
2. Long term side effects:

 Breast: 
o Minor scarring of the lung that can show up on an X-ray
o The treated breast may be slightly smaller and firmer than the untreated breast, though this is
rarely noticeable, even in a bathing suit or bra
 Head or neck:
o A change in the pH of saliva, allowing a new breed of bacteria to grow that can damage tooth
enamel and make you more susceptible to cavities
o A permanent alteration in taste or food preferences
o Bone injury (Avoid dental surgery or other dental work after treatment.)
o Difficulty swallowing
o Mouth dryness
o Throat pain or hoarseness
o Tightening of the jaw
 Brain:
o Cataracts
o Hair loss
o Hearing loss
o Memory loss ("It's hard to determine how much memory loss or cognitive dysfunction is related to
a tumor and how much is related to radiotherapy," says Dr. Nowlan. Radiation oncologists limit
how much of the brain is exposed to radiation whenever possible, utilizing precision treatments
like the gamma knife or stereotactic radiosurgery.)
 Pelvis:
o Increased, looser bowel movements
o Infertility (For patients in their childbearing years who wish to have children one day, there are
options to preserve fertility prior to treatment.)
o Reduction in bladder capacity
o Vaginal dryness
 Chest:
o Increased risk of breast cancer for patients who receive chest radiation for conditions such as
lymphoma during puberty

3. Effects on bone:
- Specific bone complications of radiation include osteopenia, growth arrest, fracture and
malignancy. Some of these complications, such as osteopenia, are reversible and severity is
dose dependent.
VENUS CRIA MICHELE ATHENA REFAMA
BSN 2A
NCM 109 PEDIA

4. Effects on hormones:
- Low levels of hormones can be a late side effect of radiation therapy to the hypothalamus,
pituitary gland or thyroid. Nerve damage if radiation therapy damages any of the cranial
nerves causing vision changes, hearing problems or weakness of the face, tongue, neck or
shoulder. Five weeks of radiation therapy (46-50 Gy) resulted in a 100% increase in serum
FSH, a 70% increase in LH, and a 25% reduction in testosterone levels. After treatment,
35% of the patients had serum testosterone levels below lower limit of reference.

5. Effects on nervous system:

- Symptoms of late-delayed radiation damage can include progressively worsening
dementia, memory loss, difficulty thinking, personality changes, and unsteadiness
in walking. Radiation directed at tumors near the spine may damage the spinal cord
itself. When it does, late-delayed myelopathy may develop.

6. Effects on organs of chest and abdomen:

Radiation therapy aimed at the chest may cause these side effects:

 Difficulty swallowing.
 Shortness of breath.
 Breast or nipple soreness.
 Shoulder stiffness.
 Cough, fever, and fullness of the chest, known as radiation pneumonitis
 Radiation fibrosis, which causes permanent lung scars from untreated radiation
pneumonitis.
Radiation can cause more severe and permanent side effects such as damage to the lungs,
heart, bowel, bladder or other organs. There is also a small risk that the radiation treatment
may actually cause, years later, a new cancer.

BEFORE TREATMENT:
Assessing fluid and electrolyte balance. Anorexia, nausea, vomiting, altered taste, mucositis,
and diarrhea put patients at risk for nutritional and fluid electrolyte disturbances.
DURING TREATMENT:
 Administer chemotherapy and monitor the patient throughout active treatment.
 Prescribes medication following chemotherapy.
 Manage short-term and long-term effects to improve the patient’s health condition.
VENUS CRIA MICHELE ATHENA REFAMA
BSN 2A
NCM 109 PEDIA

 Creates a care plan with defined goals communicated to the patient and patient’s
family.
 Effectively communicates medical terminology regarding the patient’s condition, illness,
radiation therapy, and treatment plan.
 Adjust the treatment plan as a patient advocate if the patient displays symptoms that
can worsen their health condition.
 Coordinates and documents appropriate discharge planning and referrals to ensure
continuity of care after discharge.
 Embraces change and continuously identifies opportunities for improvement by
demonstrating a commitment to utilizing evidence based practice.

After treatment
NURSING RESPONSIBILITIES:
Monitor for adverse effects: skin changes, such as blanching, erythema, desquamation,
sloughing, or hemorrhage; ulcerations of mucous membranes; nausea and vomiting, diarrhea,
or gastrointestinal bleeding. • Assess lungs for rales, which may indicate interstitial exudate.
Observe for any dyspnea or changes in respiratory pattern. • Identify and record any
medications that the client will be taking during the radiation treatment. • Monitor white blood
cell counts and platelet counts for significant decreases.