Having radiation? It can can produce side effects ranging from fatigue to a new "tan" – not that radiation's a day at the beach! Here's a look at some of the side effects, both short- and long-term, you may experience.

Q.  I’m partway through radiation, and I’m getting really tired. Is this one of the side effects?

A. It sure is. Fatigue is probably the most common side effect of radiation, along with your skin becoming red and sore.

What’s going on? Researchers theorize that your body is spending so much energy dealing with the “attack” going on against its cells, it has little left for anything else. Some women say they feel “dead tired.” Others, as though they’ve got a mild case of the flu. Some start to feel tired almost immediately, but for most it seems to develop later in treatment, or even after radiation is over. This fatigue can last for several months or even a year after treatment is over, so don’t be too hard on yourself when you don’t bounce back as quickly as you feel you should.

Since radiation is usually the final part of your cancer treatment, it’s tempting to say, “Yeah, OK, I’m done. I can’t wait for my life to get back to normal!” Only it doesn’t, at least for awhile. Time heals; give it a chance.

Q. The consistency of my breast seems to have changed. It seems kind of hard, kind of thick… it’s difficult to explain, but it just seems different. The skin is also a darker color; it doesn’t match my other breast. Will it go back to normal?

A. One of my friends characterized her breast as feeling like a microwaved bagel after radiation: thick and dense. In time, this usually disappears, and your breast should get back to what it felt like before.

As for the color, that redness you may have had during treatment has probably turned into a “tan.” And, like a tan, the color will disappear eventually. Give it time; this may take up to a year.

In the meantime, avoid exposing your breast to direct sunlight. Yup, that’s right: no nude sunbathing, for at least a year! Ask your doctor if he or she has any specific instructions in this regard.

Some women find that their irradiated breast has either grown bigger, or become smaller. Many times a breast that’s enlarged will gradually shrink back to its normal size. But a breast that’s become smaller may remain that way.

In addition, some women report soreness, particularly around any scars, for up to a year after treatment has ended. So if you continue to feel sore–if your bra chafes, or you feel a little irritation when you’re scrubbing in the shower–realize that in time, the pain should disappear.

Q. So, what about long-term side effects? Should I be on the lookout for anything else in the next year or so?

A. Well, don’t go looking for trouble! If you start experiencing pain in your ribs and/or around your breastbone, don’t panic; it’s probably not cancer. Radiation can cause arthritis-like inflammation, particularly around the area where your ribs connect to your sternum. Do ask your doctor about the pain, but you’ll probably be told to take aspirin, which should take care of it.