Survey: Radiation therapy side effects reported by majority of cancer patients

A majority of cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy experience side effects, according to a survey of more than 3,800 people, with fatigue emerging as the most common complaint. The poll, conducted among patients who received radiotherapy, found that more than 8 in 10 reported symptoms linked to the treatment. Fatigue was reported by more than half of respondents, while 18 percent reported no complaints at all.

Nearly half of those surveyed—47 percent—said they experienced three or more distinct side effects. After fatigue, skin problems were reported by 34 percent of patients, while 23 percent reported pain.

The survey was conducted by the Dutch Association for Radiotherapy and Oncology (NVRO) and the Dutch Federation of Cancer Patient Organizations (NFK). The groups said they wanted a clearer picture of the symptoms caused by radiation therapy and “what the impact thereof is on the daily lives of people with cancer.”

Hans Langendijk, a radiation oncologist and professor at UMC Groningen, said not all side effects can be prevented, but patient support can help reduce their impact.

“Unfortunately, not all complaints as a result of radiation can be prevented, but support and treatment of complaints can often help patients,” Langendijk said in a statement. "Therefore, it is important to structurally guide patients well during and after treatment, to signal complaints in time, and to jointly look at which support or treatment is appropriate.”

The organizations also stressed the importance of clear, accessible information for patients before treatment begins. They said everyone receiving radiation therapy should receive understandable explanations in advance about which side effects they might expect, whether anything can be done about them, and what exactly those measures would involve.