Welcome Big Al!

Radiation causes short and long term side effects. Short term, like rope mucus neck burns, tiredness can last up to three months, and long term effects last longer than three months, even years, and sometimes showing up years later like fibrosis, dry mouth, etc.

Radiation toxicities are also dependent on the area (s) radiated, type of radiation, the dosage amount in Grays, the frequency in Fractions, if prior radiation, surgery, ipsilateral or bilateral sides radiated, other co-morbidities, general health and age, even experience of the radiation oncologist and center.

For me, my first chemo was worse than any radiation I had, and did it 5 times, three different types, so everyone is different.

How many nodes were found cancerous?

As suggested, the main site has plenty of information. Good luck!