2007-11-14 00:27:46 · 7 answers · asked by Kate 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Medicine
Side effects of radiation therapy are related to the area that is being treated. Many patients do not experience any side effects. Most side effects that occur during radiation therapy are not serious and can be controlled with medication or diet and usually disappear within a few weeks after treatment ends. The most common side effects are fatigue and temporary skin sensitivity.
Overexposure to radiation can cause cancer in some instances, but for the treatment of cancer, therapeutic radiation is used. Therapeutic radiation uses very limited and targeted amounts of radiation-
2007-11-15 00:25:53 · answer #1 · answered by Jayaraman 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Overexposure to radiation has many side effects. But usually these are cumulative effects seen in people working with nuclear materials such as eventual development of cancer particularly leukemia and skin cancer. Signs of exposure include hair loss and slight burns on the exposed part(if the radiation is hot enough). other signs may include infertility and congenital birth defects for pregnant women exposed to radiation.
2007-11-14 00:42:02 · answer #2 · answered by denqph 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Radioactive particles interact with DNA and cause mutations and damage to the chain structure. This is actually very common (not just from radiation but also free radicals and reaction intermediates that exist naturally in the body). Mechanisms exist to correct these errors, sometimes however breaks and damage occur which are not repaired. If these mutations occur in genes which regulate cell growth then cancers can arise.
Normally human cells only divide a limited number of times (around 10-30 on average i expect) before they are either killed (apoptosis) or sent into an irreversible state of inactivity (scenesence). Cancer cells however have overcome the mechanisms which regualte these control processes and thus just grow and grow. If they break away from their anchorage into the blood then they can become a major problem.
2007-11-14 05:14:32 · answer #3 · answered by UKGardener2007 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are many side effects of radiation exposure. One is cancer, usually skin cancer. Another is hair loss.
2007-11-14 00:36:54 · answer #4 · answered by Runner 09 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Liver damage, I believe
(I write this as I sit between two PCs... woo-hoo!)
2007-11-14 01:03:36 · answer #5 · answered by Rob 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
skin cancer
death
2007-11-14 00:30:51 · answer #6 · answered by tom4bucs 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hair loss, skin cell damage....oh yeah and DEATH!
2007-11-14 00:36:47 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋