How long does it take to recover from side effects after radiation therapy?
Disease description:
After the grandmother received radiotherapy, she experienced significant hair loss. The doctor explained that this is a side effect of radiotherapy. How long will it take for the side effects of radiotherapy to resolve?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Qi Zhirong
The recovery time for side effects after radiotherapy varies from person to person, primarily depending on the patient's physical condition and the specific effects of the radiotherapy. Generally, mild side effects such as skin rash and nausea or vomiting may begin to significantly improve around 10 days after completion of radiotherapy and typically recover within approximately one month. For more severe side effects, such as radiation pneumonitis or radiation enteritis, the recovery period may take several months or even more than half a year, especially for patients with poorer physical condition, in whom the recovery time may be even longer. Additionally, certain side effects, such as neurotoxicity and cardiotoxicity, may persist long-term or even be irreversible. Therefore, the recovery time after radiotherapy needs to be individually assessed based on the patient's specific circumstances.
