Could radiation therapy for cancer cause other cancers in nearby organs later on?

Yes: This is indeed an area of concern in patients who have been treated with radiation, particularly if they received radiation therapy when younger in age. The younger the patient at the time of radiation treatment, the greater the chance of developing a secondary future malignancy.

Yes: Agree with dr. Khorsandi but the chance is very low.

Yes: It's one of the risks described in your consent form. This is also true about taking chemotherapy that other cancers are treatment related. However these risks are low and considered acceptable compared to the benefit that is expected from the treatment.

One in a...: Radiation damages dna, and most of the time its repaired accurately. Most cancers require multiple genetic defects that multipy and compund when cells divide. The probability is very small, in the rang of 1 in 10, 000 to 1in a million...And then time. Younger people live long enough to allow rare events to emerge. It is very low risk, but needs to be weighed carefully.