Skin Cancer
Side Effects

Side effects of brachytherapy

All treatments for skin cancer carry a risk of side effects.

People respond to treatments in different ways. Some side effects may appear in the short-term (known as acute side effects) or may appear several months later (long-term side effects).

Brachytherapy is well tolerated by most patients and the risk of long-term side effects is very low.1,2,3

Short-term (acute) side effects

As with all treatments you may experience some side effects immediately after the treatment procedure.

After brachytherapy, you may experience some of the following:1,2,3

  • Mild erythema (redness/rash)
  • Dry or moist desquamation, moderate edema

These short-term side effects are typically mild in nature and usually resolve within 2 weeks after treatment.

Long-term side effects

In the majority of cases, the area of skin being treated will return to normal appearance after a few weeks.

With brachytherapy, as with other treatments, some long-term side effects may be witnessed.

Long-term side effects that may appear after brachytherapy:1,2,3

  • A slight mark or discolouration (either hypo-or hyper pigmentation) of the skin at the area of radiation therapy may occur.
  • Local hair loss at the site of radiation

Discuss your treatment options and the relative risks of potential side effects with your healthcare professional.

The Precise Answer for Tackling Skin Cancer

Download the skin cancer patient guide (pdf)

References

  1. Delishaj D et al. J Contemp Brachyther 2016; 8(6):533-40. Available at: https://doi.org/10.5114/jcb.2016.64112 Accessed June 2021
  2. Tormo A et al. J Contemp Brachyther 2014; 6(2):167-172. Available at: https://dx.doi.org/10.5114%2Fjcb.2014.43247 Accessed June 2021
  1. Gauden R et al. J Med Imaging Radiat Oncol 2013; 57(2):212-7. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1754-9485.2012.02466.x Accessed June 2021