The Most Common Side Effect of Radiation is Kind of Like a Sunburn
- The most common side effect of radiation for ovarian cancer is a sunburn-like condition called radiation dermatitis
- The side effects vary based on how much radiation someone receives
- Mild cases may cause a slight pinkening or reddening of the skin, and more severe cases may involve peeling skin
- Keeping the skin clean and hydrated can help manage radiation dermatitis
Usually, the side effects are concentrated to the specific area the radiation is treating, says Dr. Chika Nwachukwu, a radiation oncologist at UT Southwestern Medical Center. So if you are getting radiation to treat an area of your bone that has an ovarian cancer metastasis, you would see the side effects in that specific area.
Read More These side effects are mostly skin-related. Doctors call it “radiation dermatitis.” In mild cases, it will cause the skin to be a bit pink and tender, and with more radiation, the skin might begin to peel as a bad sunburn would. “The radiation reaction is cumulative,” Dr. Nwachukwu explains. “It’s related to the amount of total dose of radiation that you get.” To help manage radiation dermatitis, Dr. Nwachukwu says it’s important to keep the skin clean and well hydrated.
“So that includes moisturizing lotions and then, potentially, solutions that have very tiny amounts of bleach in them,” she says. These solutions can keep the skin clean and prevent infection. It’s a good idea to steer clear of solutions containing alcohol, though.
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