Skip to content skip to primary navi skip to secondary navi skip to meta navi search

Radiotherapy

Like chemotherapy, radiotherapy may cause acute adverse reactions, depending on the irradiated areas. During radiotherapy or towards the end of it, skin changes, weight loss, nausea and vomiting or inflammations of the mucous membranes may occur, but these symptoms usually disappear after the end of therapy and their severity varies greatly from patient to patient.

Heart and lung

After irradiation of the thorax (mediastinal irradiation), a temporary radiation damage of the lung (pulmonary fibrosis) can often be detected, however, in most cases it does not cause any complaints. Radiation-induced, non-infectious inflammations of the lung (radiation pneumonitis) and the heart (myocarditis, pericarditis) are more severe, but have only been observed in very rare cases. Such inflammations may occur weeks or even months after mediastinal irradiation and cause serious complaints, above all, long-term impairment of the general condition. Besides, changes of the coronary vessels similar to coronary heart disease may occur months or even years after radiotherapy, but can be treated by respective drugs.

Thyroid gland

Some patients who underwent irradiation of the cervical lymph nodes were afterwards diagnosed with dysfunctions of the thyroid gland. These dysfunctions become manifest in a hypofunction of the thyroid gland with relatively unspecific symptoms like general weakness, fatigue, permanent freezing, weight gain or a lack of concentration. Thyroid gland hypofunction must be treated by substituting thyroid hormone.

Fertility

In women between 35 and 45 years of age, a premature onset of the menopause has to be expected following irradiation of the pelvis. Frequently observed menopausal symptoms are hot flashes, sweating, palpitations and sleep disorders. In younger patients, menopausal symptoms are reported only rarely, and if they occur, they often disappear again after some time. Male patients may become temporarily impotent, but potency may recover up to three years after end of therapy.

It is important to note that there is no evidence for an increased risk of abnormalities in children whose parents were successfully treated with chemo- or radiotherapy, and abnormal developments do not occur more often than in children of healthy parents who did not receive such treatments. So there is no reason why women should be discouraged from becoming pregnant after chemotherapeutic and/or radiotherapeutic treatment.

Fatigue

Fatigue is a permanent subjective feeling of psychic, emotional and/or mental exhaustion and can be observed in many patients already before the start of their treatment. Based on investigations of the GHSG, Hodgkin lymphoma treatment does not have a decisive influence on the development of fatigue. There are only few recommendations for treatment so far. According to the results of the first trials relating to this subject, practicing sports may have a positive influence.

Secondary tumors (secondary malignancies)

The most severe late effect of both chemotherapy and radiotherapy is the increased risk for the development of secondary malignancies (non-Hodgkin lymphomas, leukemias, solid tumors). This is why lifelong aftercare and cancer screening examinations are of great importance in Hodgkin lymphoma patients.

Current clinical trials mainly aim to reduce adverse reactions and late effects as well as the risk for secondary tumors without impairing efficacy by optimizing treatment methods.