secondary cancer after radiation therapy

[danaheil]

Does anyone know the incidence of secondary cancers after radiation? Pelvic radiation specifically. How much time goes by before this becomes a distinct possibility for patients? I know that pelvic radiation can cause bone density problems for many patients as well as decreased immune function from altered white cell counts. I was recently told that pelvic radiation can cause secondary dense tumors as little as 6 months from completion of therapy. I guess I was under the impression that this was a risk several years after treatment. Thanks for the info ahead of time.

[globalRN]

Does anyone know the incidence of secondary cancers after radiation? Pelvic radiation specifically. How much time goes by before this becomes a distinct possibility for patients? I know that pelvic radiation can cause bone density problems for many patients as well as decreased immune function from altered white cell counts. I was recently told that pelvic radiation can cause secondary dense tumors as little as 6 months from completion of therapy. I guess I was under the impression that this was a risk several years after treatment. Thanks for the info ahead of time.

sarcomas , soft tissue cancers are commom after radiation

[RADONC-RN]

I have worked in Rad Onc for the past 6 yrs where we treat 75-100 pt/day. To my knowledge, I have yet seen a pt come back to us with a secondary cancer due to radiation. I know it is possible and one of my rad onc MD's said that skin cancer is also common besides the sarcomas.