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Despite great care being taken during radiation therapy, damage to healthy tissues in the small airways and alveoli are unavoidable. The side effects of radiation therapy vary and depend on the radiation dose. Depending on the dose, exposure to radiation can result in inflammation of varying degrees of severity or  an excess build-up of scar or connecting tissue. The excess formation of connecting tissue is called fibrosis, and when pronounced can affect the lung elasticity and therefore the lung function itself. In rare cases, difficulties in breathing may also result.

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