Radiation

In cases requiring both surgery and radiation, the radiation phase occurs two to five weeks after surgery. Radiation is often essential to kill microscopic deposits of tumor cells lingering in the tissues surrounding the original tumor. The patient typically will receive radiation treatments five days a week for about six weeks. Each treatment is brief, and various techniques are used to minimize side effects, which include a sore throat and red skin. These side effects go away after radiation therapy is finished. All in all, most people tolerate this phase fairly well.