Which is a common side effect of radiation therapy?

A common side effect of radiation therapy is skin breakdown at the radiation site. This occurs because radiation can damage the healthy skin and tissue surrounding the area being treated. As radiation therapy targets cancerous cells, it can inadvertently affect nearby healthy cells, leading to reactions such as redness, irritation, and eventually, skin breakdown.

Patients may experience symptoms like peeling, blistering, or more severe reactions depending on the dose of radiation and the area being treated. Proper skin care and monitoring are essential for patients undergoing radiation therapy to help minimize these effects.

While nausea and vomiting can occur due to radiation, especially if the abdomen is treated, it's not as direct a consequence as skin issues at the radiation site. Weight gain and increased appetite are generally not recognized as side effects of radiation therapy; rather, they are more associated with other factors like hormonal changes or other treatments.