How long do radiation side effects last?

The duration of side effects varies from person to person. They usually decrease or disappear within weeks or months after the end of radiotherapy, but some side effects may last for a long time or even be permanent. Acute side effects often appear during or shortly after radiotherapy and gradually improve over time. For example, radiation dermatitis may appear during radiotherapy, such as skin redness, itching, etc., generally return to normal within a few weeks after the end of radiotherapy. Some systemic side effects, such as fatigue, may last for weeks or months. This is because radiotherapy causes certain energy consumption and metabolic effects on the body, and the body needs time to recover. Effects on the hematopoietic system, such as leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, etc., usually recover gradually within a period of time after the end of radiotherapy, but if the damage is severe, the recovery time may be prolonged. For some specific parts of radiotherapy, such as dry mouth and dysphagia after head and neck radiotherapy, it may last for several months or even longer. This is because radiation damages tissues such as salivary glands and recovers slowly. Late side effects are relatively rare, but may be permanent. For example, radiation mylitis, which is caused by severe damage to nerve tissue caused by radiation therapy, is often difficult to fully recover once it occurs. It is important to note that each person's ability to respond and recover from radiotherapy varies greatly, and the duration of side effects of radiotherapy also varies greatly. During and after radiotherapy, patients should pay close attention to their symptoms and actively communicate with their doctors in order to detect and deal with possible problems in time to promote physical recovery. At the same time, doctors will also develop personalized follow-up plans based on the patient's specific conditions to monitor changes in side effects and recovery.