Chemotherapy given together with radiation to treat head and neck cancer. The hardest part is usually the radiation's local effects, which build over the weeks: painful mouth/throat sores, trouble swallowing, dry mouth, and taste changes — often needing strong pain control and sometimes a feeding tube. Cisplatin adds nausea and needs IV fluids to protect the kidneys.

Cisplatin (usually every 3 weeks, or weekly) given WITH radiation to the head and neck over ~7 weeks (chemoradiation). The RADIATION-driven local effects — severe mouth/throat sores, swallowing pain, dry mouth, taste loss, skin reaction — BUILD through the course and peak near or after the end. Cisplatin adds nausea and cumulative kidney/hearing/nerve effects.

Timed to the cycle

No effect in this record carries a day window that a retrievable document supports for this regimen. That is a gap in the evidence, not a sign that nothing happens — the effects below are still what is reported.

Not tied to a cycle day

These build with the number of doses, or are measured from when treatment started, so a cycle day would be the wrong shape for them. Each keeps the timing its own source states.

Mouth and throat sores (mucositis)

builds from week 2-3; peaks near/after the end

The lining of the mouth and throat becomes sore and ulcerated — usually the hardest effect — building from about week 2-3 and peaking near or just after the end of radiation. It's managed with strong pain relief, mouth rinses, and sometimes a feeding tube; it heals over the weeks after treatment.

Call your team urgently: Can't eat or drink, or can't manage saliva/secretions.

reported by about ~90% of people; severe in ~40-60% · from Radiation, Cisplatin

Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)

builds through the course; may persist

Swallowing becomes painful and difficult as the treated area gets sore and swollen. A dietitian and speech/swallow therapist help, and some people need a temporary feeding tube to stay nourished and hydrated.

Call your team urgently: Can't swallow fluids, or signs of dehydration (dizziness, very little urine).

reported by about very common% of people; severe in ~30-45% · from Radiation

Dry mouth and taste loss

builds through the course; dry mouth may persist long-term

Radiation to the salivary glands causes dry mouth and altered/lost taste. Taste often recovers partly over months; dry mouth can be longer-lasting. Frequent sips, saliva substitutes, and good dental care help.

reported by about very common% of people · from Radiation

Skin reaction (radiation dermatitis)

builds through the course; heals after

The skin over the treated neck area becomes red, dry, and sore, building through the course and healing over a few weeks after. Follow the radiation team's skin-care advice.

Call your team: Open, weeping, or infected-looking skin.

reported by about common% of people · from Radiation

Nausea and vomiting

Sickness in the first 24 hours is the "acute" phase and usually peaks 2-3 hours in; anything from 24 to 120 hours is the "delayed" phase.

Cisplatin causes nausea, controlled with anti-nausea medicine before each dose; it can last a few days.

Call your team: Can't keep fluids down for more than 12 hours.

reported by about ~70% of people; severe in 5-15% · Timing from a clinical guideline · from Cisplatin

Kidney, hearing, and nerve effects (cisplatin, cumulative)

cumulative over cycles

Cisplatin can stress the kidneys (managed with IV fluids and bloodwork), cause ringing/high-pitch hearing loss, and cause numbness/tingling — all building with cumulative dose and possibly lasting. Report hearing changes or numbness.

Call your team: Much less urine than usual, or marked swelling.

reported by about cumulative, dose-dependent% of people · from Cisplatin

Where this comes from

A window appears here only where a retrievable document ties it to a drug in this regimen. Where nothing could be found, the window was removed rather than estimated — so a missing time is an honest gap, not an oversight.

Cisplatin + Radiation: what to expect, day by day