Adverse effects associated with radiotherapy: a study on cancer patients from Hillah (Iraq)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.60988/p.v37i2S.162Keywords:
adverse effects; radiotherapy; cancer patients; Hillah; IraqAbstract
Radiopharmaceuticals play a critical role in the treatment of both malignant and benign tumours. The present study is a retrospective cross-sectional analysis based on a paper-based questionnaire administered to cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy at the Oncology Center of the Imam Sadiq Teaching Hospital and at the Marjan Medical City Hospital in Hillah, Iraq, between November 15, 2022 and March 15, 2023. Fifty patients aged 1–80 years participated in the study, with the most common age group being 51–60 years (26.56%). Females constituted the majority of the participants (N=38; 76%). A range of cancer types was documented, including breast cancer, brain cancer, lymphoma, uterine cancer, cancers of the mouth and pharynx, stomach cancer, hip cancer, bone cancer, rectal cancer, shoulder cancer, skin cancer, and pilonidal carcinoma. Twenty-one adverse effects were reported, the most common being fatigue, exhaustion, and loss of energy (80%), followed by drowsiness and prolonged sleep (74%), as well as muscle and bone pain (74%). Several adverse effects of radiotherapy demonstrated a statistically significant association with age and sex, occurring more frequently in patients over 40 years of age and in females. Among breast cancer patients who had undergone surgery, neck pain and cramps, breast pain, and chest pain were the most commonly reported adverse effects associated with radiotherapy.
References
1. Jaffray D.A., Knaul F.M., Atun R., Adams C., Barton M.B., Baumann M., et al. Global Task Force on Radiotherapy for Cancer Control. Lancet Oncol. 16(10), 1144–1146, 2015. DOI: 10.1016/S1470-2045(15)00285-5
2. Loibl S., André F., Bachelot T., Barrios C.H., Bergh J., Burstein H.J., et al. Early breast cancer: ESMO Clinical Practice Guideline for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. Ann. Oncol. 35(2), 159–182, 2024. DOI: 10.1016/j.annonc.2023.11.016
3. De Ruysscher D., Niedermann G., Burnet N.G., Siva S., Lee A.W.M., Hegi-Johnson F. Radiotherapy toxicity. Nat. Rev. Dis. Primers 5(1), 13, 2019. DOI: 10.1038/s41572-019-0064-5
4. Leonardi M.C., Zerella M.A., Lazzeroni M., Fusco N., Veronesi P., Galimberti V.E., et al. Tools to guide radiation oncologists in the management of DCIS. Healthcare (Basel) 12(7), 795, 2024. DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12070795
5. Lee S.F., Kennedy S.K.F., Caini S., Wong H.C.Y., Yip P.L., Poortmans P.M., et al. Randomised controlled trials on radiation dose fractionation in breast cancer: systematic review and meta-analysis with emphasis on side effects and cosmesis. BMJ 386, e079089, 2024. DOI: 10.1136/bmj-2023-079089
6. Majeed H., Gupta V. Adverse effects of radiation therapy. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island, FL: StatPearls Publishing, 2025.
7. Barazzuol L., Coppes R.P., van Luijk P. Prevention and treatment of radiotherapy-induced side effects. Mol. Oncol. 14(7), 1538–1554, 2020. DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.12750
8. Brook I. Early side effects of radiation treatment for head and neck cancer. Cancer Radiother. 25(5), 507–513, 2021. DOI: 10.1016/j.canrad.2021.02.001
9. Riva G., Cravero E., Pizzo C., Briguglio M., Iorio G.C., Cavallin C., et al. Sinonasal side effects of chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy for head and neck cancer: a literature review. Cancers (Basel) 14(9), 2324, 2022. DOI: 10.3390/cancers14092324
10. Newhauser W.D., Berrington de Gonzalez A., Schulte R., Lee C. A review of radiotherapy-induced late effects research after advanced technology treatments. Front. Oncol. 6, 13, 2016. DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2016.00013
