10 Side Effects of Radiation
Reviewed: Dr. Mera
Radiation Side Effect #9: Pulmonary Fibrosis
Our lungs are made from soft, delicate tissue. The soft tissue is quite prone to damage but thankfully the lungs are well protected behind a strong rib cage. This means that they are usually quite safe from damage, although we will need to be careful about what we inhale. They can also become damaged as a result of radiation.
Radiation therapy can damage the delicate lung tissue. This will then lead to scarring of the lung tissue, which we know as pulmonary fibrosis. This scar tissue is thicker than the original tissue and can affect the patient’s ability to breathe. This will only occur if treatment is being carried out on the chest area.
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