Radiation Therapy for Head and Neck Cancers

Author: Courtney Misher, MPH, BS R.T.(T)
Last Reviewed: October 05, 2022

Radiation therapy is often used to treat head & neck cancers, either before or after surgery. Head & neck cancers can also be treated with surgery, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. Radiation can be used on its own or combined with another treatment, such as surgery or chemotherapy. Proton therapy, photon therapy, or brachytherapy (internal radiation therapy) may be used for treatment.

What should I expect during treatment?

Before starting radiation therapy, you will have an initial consultation (meeting) with your radiation oncologist to decide if radiation is right for you and to review the treatment consent. If you plan to have radiation, you will have a CT simulation. During the simulation, you will be placed in the position you will be in for your treatments and pictures will be taken of the inside of your body. Immobilization devices (materials that help you stay still during treatment) along with tattoos are often used to get you in the exact same position for each treatment.

After the CT simulation, a treatment plan will be made for you. During the treatment planning process, your radiation oncologist will decide how many treatments you will receive and how often. There are many people on your radiation care team, some you will meet, and others stay behind the scenes.

What side effects should I expect during treatment?

Radiation is used to kill cancer cells but can also hurt normal cells in the treatment area. The damage to these normal cells is the cause of the common side effects of radiation treatment. Side effects from radiation are caused by the cumulative effect of radiation on the cells. This means they develop over time, and you may not have any side effects until a few weeks into treatment. The possible side effects of radiation therapy are also directly related to the area of the body that is being treated.

You will visit with your radiation care team once a week while you are getting treatment. This visit gives you the chance to ask questions and talk about side effects and how to best manage them. If you start having a new or worsening side effect, you should call your care team. Each patient is different so you may not have all the possible side effects. Talk to your care team about what you can expect from your treatment.

Short-Term Side Effects

Short-term side effects are ones that start during or shortly after your radiation treatment. Some of the most common short-term side effects of radiation therapy for head & neck cancer are:

  • Skin irritation: The skin in the treatment area may become red, irritated, dry, or sensitive. This may start to look like a sunburn. Treat the skin gently to avoid further irritation, and bathe carefully, using only warm water and mild soap. Do not use perfumed or scented lotions or soaps, and avoid sun exposure, as they worsen irritation.
  • Mucositis (Mouth sores): Tends to start 2-3 weeks into treatment and begins to improve about 2 weeks after treatment is done.
  • Esophagitis (Swelling of the esophagus): Swelling of the esophagus (the tube that connects the throat to the stomach) that causes pain and discomfort with swallowing. It is described as having a “lump” in your throat. It starts 2-3 weeks into treatment and begins to improve 7-10 days after treatment is done.
  • Xerostomia (Dry mouth): This can include thick or stringy saliva. It starts a few weeks into treatment. This can be a temporary side effect, getting better during the year after treatment, or it can be a permanent loss of saliva production.
  • Taste changes: This can include metallic taste and not wanting to eat certain foods. This often gets better over time after therapy ends but can last for a year or longer.
  • Fatigue: Fatigue is feeling very tired or exhausted. This is very common and tends to begin a few weeks into treatment. Fatigue often gets better slowly over the weeks and months after treatment.
  • Nausea: Nausea is when you feel sick to your stomach and may even be vomiting. This is common and may start during or right after treatment and last for several weeks after treatment ends. If you feel sick or are vomiting, let your care team know so they can help you manage this side effect.
  • Alopecia (Hair loss): You may lose hair in the area where you received radiation. Hair often starts to regrow a month or so after treatment. However, your hair might not grow back exactly as it was before treatment and for some, the hair loss permanent.
  • Ear pain: Can be caused by swelling, infection, or earwax becoming hard. It tends to get better in the weeks following treatment. Sometimes eardrops to soften the wax can be helpful.

Long-Term Side Effects

Long-term effects can happen months to many years after treatment and the risks depend on the area of the body being treated. They can also depend on the radiation techniques that are used. Some of the long-term side effects of radiation to the head & neck are:

  • Xerostomia (Dry mouth): This can become a long-term (permanent) issue for some patients, which can have a lot of effect on your quality of life and dental health. Your care team can give you instructions for dental care and suggest products to help with the lack of saliva.
  • Swallowing problems: Radiation can result in the development of scar tissue months to years after treatment. This can lead to swallowing problems starting many years after treatment. Let your care team know if you have any changes in your swallowing.
  • Radiation fibrosis: Scarring of muscles that can occur in the treatment area, making the muscles feel stiff or tough. These muscles can have spasms, stiffness, pain and/or become weak. Scarring of muscles in the neck can cause the head to be rotated and tilted to the side. Physical therapy, certain medications, and cancer rehabilitation can help.
  • Lymphedema: This is swelling. Lymphedema of the face, chin and neck area can occur in rare cases. Tell your care provider if you notice swelling. Physical therapy is used to treat lymphedema. Learn more about reducing the risk of lymphedema.
  • Trismus: Also called lockjaw, it is not being able to open the mouth normally. This can make it difficult to eat, speak, or perform dental care. Your care team can recommend jaw exercises to help with trismus.
  • Osteoradionecrosis: Radiation harms the healthy gums that cover your jaw bone. The bone becomes exposed. Because the bone isn’t covered it is more likely to become infected or not able to heal.
  • Secondary Cancer: There is a low risk of developing a second cancer in or near the treatment area. These are called secondary cancers, and they develop because healthy tissue is often exposed to radiation. Many of the current radiation techniques are designed to limit this exposure, but it is not always possible to prevent all exposure and still achieve the desired outcomes.

Side effects may be unpleasant, but there are treatments that can help you deal with them. After treatment, talk with your oncology team about receiving a survivorship care plan, which can help you manage the transition to survivorship and learn about life after cancer. You can create your own survivorship care plan using the OncoLife Survivorship Care Plan.

References

Brook I. (2020). Late side effects of radiation treatment for head and neck cancer. Radiation oncology journal, 38(2), 84–92. https://doi.org/10.3857/roj.2020.00213

Head and neck radiation treatment and your mouth. (n.d.). Retrieved October 3, 2022, from https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/sites/default/files/2017-09/head-neck-radation-treatment.pdf

Side effects of radiation therapy: Radiation effects on body. American Cancer Society. (2020, December 10). Retrieved October 3, 2022, from https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/treatment-types/radiation/effects-on-different-parts-of-body.html

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