SIDE EFFECTS
Side effects may or may not be experienced by patients undergoing radiation treatment for mycosis fungoides, as every patient responds to the treatment differently. If patients do experience side effects, they will typically only occur in the specific area(s) being treated. Most side effects are temporary and will subside a few weeks after the completion of treatment, however, some may experience long-term side effects. Listed below are some examples of side effects that may be experienced.
SKIN REACTIONS
Skin reactions from treatment are very common and often resemble a sunburn. Patients may notice itchiness, dry/flaky skin, and redness that resolves after a few weeks.
To help reduce skin reaction, patients should keep the area receiving treatment clean and dry. Also, frequently using mild moisturizers that are alcohol and fragrance free can help minimize skin reaction and help reduce itchiness. While undergoing treatment, patients should avoid further irritation of the skin. This can be achieved by wearing loose clothing and reducing exposure to extreme hot or cold temperatures.
HAIR/NAILS
Patients receiving TSEI treatments may experience hair and/or nail loss. Hair and nail loss is usually temporary and will grow back in the weeks after radiation treatment.
If nail loss occurs, patients are encouraged to keep remaining nails short and the nail beds clean and dry.
Patients experiencing hair loss should avoid pulling the hair with hair ties and should wear protective clothing to keep exposed skin protected from sunlight.
SWEAT GLANDS
TSEI patients may experience changes to their sweat glands during or after radiation. Sweat glands help to control the body's temperature, so if radiation treatment damages this process, patients may experience difficulty with maintaining a normal body temperature.
If patients experience changes to sweat glands, they should avoid areas with extreme temperatures, such as saunas, steam rooms, and areas without air conditioning.
If patients have specific concerns or questions about the side effects they may experience, they should reach out to their radiation oncologist for more information, as there may be additional steps that can be taken to best fit the patient's needs.
References
Evans, M. D., Hudon, C., Podgorsak, E. B., & Freeman, C. R. (2014). Institutional experience with a rotational total skin electron irradiation (RTSEI) technique—a three decade review (1981–2012). Reports of Practical Oncology & Radiotherapy, 19(2), 120-134.
Hansen, J. E., Kim, Y. H., Hoppe, R. T., & Wilson, L. D. (2019). Primary cutaneous lymphoma. Principles and Practice of Radiation Oncology (7th, pp. 1908–1921). Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer.
Hoppe, R. T., Harrison, C., Tavallaee, M., Bashey, S., Sundram, U., Li, S., Million, L., Dabaja, B., Gangar, P., Duvic, M., & Kim, Y. H. (2015). Low-dose total skin electron beam therapy as an effective modality to reduce disease burden in patients with mycosis fungoides: results of a pooled analysis from 3 phase-II clinical trials. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 72(2), 286–292.
Parida, D. K., Verma, K. K., Chander, S., Joshi, R. C., & Rath, G. K. (2005). Total skin electron irradiation therapy in mycosis fungoides using high‐dose rate mode: A preliminary experience. International journal of dermatology, 44(10), 828-830.
Piotrowski, T., Milecki, P., Skórska, M., & Fundowicz, D. (2013). Total skin electron irradiation techniques: a review. Advances in Dermatology and Allergology/Postȩpy Dermatologii I Alergologii, 30(1), 50.