Site of radiation	Adverse effect	Treatment
Oral cavity	Mucositis	Saline/bicarbonate lavage; viscous lidocaine (Xylocaine), diphenhydramine elixir (Benadryl), simethicone (Mylanta), or Gelclair (oral gel that forms a protective coating that provides durable pain relief); sucralfate (Carafate) oral suspension
	Thrush	Antifungal treatments (nystatin [Mycostatin] swish and swallow, fluconazole [Diflucan] or itraconazole [Sporanox] orally)
Salivary glands	Xerostomia	Sialogogues (e.g., pilocarpine [Salagen]); intravenous amifostine (Ethyol) infusion daily before radiation therapy
Mandible	Temporomandibular joint fibrosis	Stretching exercises
	Osteoradionecrosis	Complete dental work before starting radiation therapy; hyperbaric oxygen; pentoxifylline (Trental)
Lungs	Pneumonitis	Prednisone (30 to 60 mg daily for 2 to 3 weeks) with appropriate tapering
	Fibrosis	Supportive care (e.g., oxygen, bronchodilators); pentoxifylline
Prostate	Obstructive uropathy	Alpha blockers (e.g., terazosin [Hytrin], doxazosin [Cardura], tamsulosin [Flomax]); finasteride (Propecia)
Bowel	Diarrhea	Low-residue diet; loperamide (Imodium); diphenoxylate/atropine (Lomotil); cholestyramine (Questran); octreotide (Sandostatin)
	Proctitis	Hydrocortisone cream; glucocorticoid retention enemas; mesalamine suppositories (Rowasa); sulfasalazine (Azulfidine)