What are the side effects of radiation therapy for brain cancer?

I had 95% of a brain tumor removed in 2008. Then I underwent 12 cycles of chemotherapy, called Temodar . designer chemo for Brain tumors Then 42 days of Gamma wave radiation . There is hair loss due to the radiation ,and some fatigue, and occasionally naseaua.

Hair loss to where the radiation passes thru the skull...small price to pay for your life. If 10% of the tumor is still there, she has to be diligent in getting scans on a regular basis..When she undergoes radiation, she should have also been advised on taking chemo at the same time and for at least 6 months afterwards.. Her skin will turn dark where radiation goes in. It will kill her tastebuds for a few months also. If she is like me, she will have head congestion like she has a cold. They keep big bowls of hard candy mints in the radiation clinic for a reason..

My husband died from a glioblastoma brain tumour 12 years ago. His was unoperable because of where the tumour was located in his brain. He had radiation therapy 5 days a week for 6 weeks and he was healthy through the entire process. He only lost hair where he received the radiation but because of pattern of hair loss (after about the 4th week) he shaved the rest of his head.

hair loss , infections , weakness of bones , mental decline - few of many side effects . u can try other options .log on to http://www.gammaknife.in

It depends on how much radiation she is going have to go through, and what type of cancer she has. Are they doing chemo also? Not everyone loses ALL of their hair... Good luck to your sister in law!

Hair loss everywhere, radiation sickness if too much is put in, and possibly radiation cancer.

My sister had proton beam x40 and photon x4. She lost virtually no hair, just more in the comb than usual. She had to take steroids against brain swelling and didn't feel well taking those.

My husband died from a glioblastoma brain tumour 12 years ago. His was unoperable because of where the tumour was located in his brain. He had radiation therapy 5 days a week for 6 weeks and he was healthy through the entire process. He only lost hair where he received the radiation but because of pattern of hair loss (after about the 4th week) he shaved the rest of his head.

Hair loss to where the radiation passes thru the skull...small price to pay for your life. If 10% of the tumor is still there, she has to be diligent in getting scans on a regular basis..When she undergoes radiation, she should have also been advised on taking chemo at the same time and for at least 6 months afterwards.. Her skin will turn dark where radiation goes in. It will kill her tastebuds for a few months also. If she is like me, she will have head congestion like she has a cold. They keep big bowls of hard candy mints in the radiation clinic for a reason..