Radiotherapy saved and/or improved the lives of many patients. However, there are some potential long-term side effects to be aware of (see below), depending on which parts of the body were exposed to the radiation. Fortunately, in most cases, only the body parts subjected to radiation are affected.

- Cavities and tooth decay
- Early menopause
- Heart and vascular problems
- Hypothyroidism
- Increased risk of other cancers
- Increased risk of stroke
- Infertility
- Intestinal problems
- Lung disease
- Lymphedema
- Memory problems
- Osteoporosis

The list above is copied verbatim from mayoclinic.org

Cancer Treatment | Radiation and Radiotherapy | Long-Term Side Effects

Radiation is very often used in cancer care.

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Surgery, radiotherapy, cytotoxic chemotherapy, molecularly targed therapy, and immunotherapy are the pillars of cancer care.

Cancer | Standard Treatments & Pillars of Cancer Care

American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)

Surgery is used in the treatment of most cancers.

Cancer | Treatments | Surgery

Using Radiation in Cancer Care (Infographic)

Cytotoxic chemotherapy is another useful type of treatment, which often is combined with other types of treatment such as surgery or radiotherapy. Chemotherapy is a whole-body treatment. For advanced cancers, chemotharapy is usually essential to control the cancer (although it only sometimes works in the long run).

Using Cytotoxic Chemotherapy in Cancer Care

"Cancer immunotherapy refers to the use of therapeutics that unleash the power of a patient’s immune system to fight cancer" (AACR)

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