Radiation's Side Effects

More than half of all cancer cases are treated with radiation, a first-line treatment for many cancers like head and neck, lung, breast, and prostate cancer. A major side effect of radiation, though, is the damage caused to healthy organs and tissues. Now new therapies are not treating the cancer, but the side effects of the treatment.

Mary finds happiness in her garden. "I just love to be outside. And I mess around in one little spot awhile. Then I'll go to another one," she says.

Last fall, gardening was the last thing on her mind. She says, "I was diagnosed in September. I had felt a lump on my neck. What the doctor was saying, I really just could not comprehend."

Diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma, she faced surgery, radiation therapy, and a handful of unwanted side effects. Mouth sores, skin reactions, dry mouth and loss of taste are all side effects of radiation.

Radiation oncologist are trying to keep those side effects to a minimum.

Anything that you can do to make the short-term or long-term quality of life better is an improvement in cancer care.

Enter amifostine. Given intravenously, it prevents dry mouth.

Amifostine is a radioprotector for the head and neck. One reason it's so good there is that it is taken up more in the salivary glands than in other tissues.

Biafine cream is another product that can alleviate common skin reactions.

Most patients that are undergoing a course of radiation may have some skin reaction, redness or swelling.

Mary received amifostine and Biafine cream. Both worked, allowing her to focus on things that are more important.

Doctors are also studying a new mouth rinse to treat the painful mouth sores that come with radiation therapy. Amifostine is already FDA approved to treat the unwanted side effects of radiation for certain cancers while Biafine cream is still in clinical trials for head and neck cancers.