5 common side effects of radiotherapy, how to deal with them?

As an important means of tumor treatment, radiotherapy, together with surgery and chemotherapy, is regarded as the "troika" of traditional tumor therapy
.

Radiation therapy is the use of radiation or high-energy electron beams to penetrate human tissues and irradiate on tumors, thereby killing cancer cells

As an important means of tumor treatment, radiotherapy, together with surgery and chemotherapy, is regarded as the "troika" of traditional tumor therapy

However, when the radiation penetrates the human tissue and reaches the tumor, it will inevitably cause damage to the normal tissue

systemic side effects systemic side effects

Most of them show loss of appetite, fatigue, dizziness, headache, insomnia and low immune function .
Some patients also have gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea and vomiting
.

Usually these symptoms are not serious and can be relieved on their own

Most of them show loss of appetite, fatigue, dizziness, headache, insomnia and low immune function .

Sometimes radiation therapy can cause hematologic abnormalities , such as a drop in the number of white blood cells, red blood cells, or platelets, more often with extensive radiation therapy to areas of high blood production, such as the pelvis

If there is a corresponding decrease in blood cell value, drugs to stimulate hematopoietic function can be applied , and if necessary, it is necessary to stop radiotherapy or protective isolation according to the situation

local side effects

Local side effects are the most common of radiotherapy, but most can be recovered
.

Local side effects are the most common of radiotherapy, but most can be recovered
.

1.
Skin symptoms

1.
Skin symptoms 1.
Skin symptoms

2 to 3 weeks after the start of radiotherapy, the skin of the radiotherapy area will experience dryness, redness, burning sensation, hair loss, skin scaling, itching, and even blisters or even ulceration in severe cases
.

2 to 3 weeks after the start of radiotherapy, the skin of the radiotherapy area will experience dryness, redness, burning sensation, hair loss, skin scaling, itching, and even blisters or even ulceration in severe cases
.

The skin will experience dryness, redness, burning sensation, hair loss, skin scaling, itching, and even blisters and even ulceration in severe cases

 

At this time, keep the skin of the radiotherapy area clean and dry, avoid using soap, etc.
, do not rub or scratch at will, do not use hot water, and do not expose the skin in the radiotherapy area to the sun
.

At this time, keep the skin of the radiotherapy area clean and dry, avoid using soap, etc.
, do not rub or scratch at will, do not use hot water, and do not expose the skin in the radiotherapy area to the sun
.

Generally speaking, the chance of serious skin reactions is very small.
Most skin reactions will subside after a few weeks of radiotherapy, and most of the hair loss areas after head radiotherapy will regenerate
.

Generally speaking, the chance of serious skin reactions is very small.
Most skin reactions will subside after a few weeks of radiotherapy, and most of the hair loss areas after head radiotherapy will regenerate
.

2.
Oral symptoms

2.
Oral symptoms 2.
Oral symptoms

If the oral cavity and pharynx are located in the radiotherapy area, most of the oral and pharyngeal mucosal reactions will occur, usually manifested as redness, swelling, ulceration, taste changes, pain, and difficulty swallowing of the oral mucosa
.

After the salivary glands are irradiated, dry mouth and bad taste in the mouth will appear

If the oral cavity and pharynx are located in the radiotherapy area, most of the oral and pharyngeal mucosal reactions will occur, usually manifested as redness, swelling, ulceration, taste changes, pain, and difficulty swallowing of the oral mucosa
.
After the salivary glands are irradiated, dry mouth and bad taste in the mouth will appear
.
Inflammation, ulceration, taste change, pain, difficulty swallowing, etc.
of the oral mucosa
.
Dry mouth and bad taste in the mouth after the salivary glands are irradiated

Before radiotherapy, patients are generally examined for oral examination, teeth cleaning, and treatment of caries and loose teeth
.
Gargle with salt water during and after radiotherapy
.

Before radiotherapy, patients are generally examined for oral examination, teeth cleaning, and treatment of caries and loose teeth
.
Gargle with salt water during and after radiotherapy
.

If eating pain occurs, semi-liquid or liquid food can be eaten, but attention should be paid to ensuring calorie and protein intake
.
If severe reactions occur, antibiotics and glucocorticoids can be used for treatment
.
The above measures usually reduce oral mucosal reactions after radiotherapy
.

If eating pain occurs, semi-liquid or liquid food can be eaten, but attention should be paid to ensuring calorie and protein intake
.
If severe reactions occur, antibiotics and glucocorticoids can be used for treatment
.
The above measures usually reduce oral mucosal reactions after radiotherapy
.
Antibiotics and glucocorticoids _

3.
Radiation pneumonitis

3.
Radiation pneumonitis 3.
Radiation pneumonitis

When the target volume includes a certain volume of lung tissue, and the lung receives a considerable amount of radiation dose, cough, sputum, fever and dyspnea
will occur .
Symptoms often vary in severity, and a lung infection can exacerbate this side effect
.

When the target volume includes a certain volume of lung tissue, and the lung receives a considerable amount of radiation dose, cough, sputum, fever and dyspnea
will occur .
Symptoms often vary in severity, and a lung infection can exacerbate this side effect
.
Cough, expectoration, fever and dyspnea infection should be kept warm during radiotherapy, and patients should be encouraged to do more deep breathing exercises
.
At the same time, the lung function of patients should also be assessed before radiotherapy, and the appropriate dose of lung radiotherapy should be limited to reduce the probability of radiation pneumonitis in patients
.

4.
Radiation cystitis

4.
Radiation cystitis 4.
Radiation cystitis

When pelvic radiation is performed, radiation cystitis can occur, and the main symptoms are lower abdominal pain, dysuria, urination, urgency, hematuria, dysuria , etc.
, which can usually be controlled and can return to normal after the end of radiotherapy
.
Patients should be encouraged to drink plenty of fluids and keep their bladder full before radiotherapy to reduce the dose to the bladder
.

When pelvic radiation is performed, radiation cystitis can occur, and the main symptoms are lower abdominal pain, dysuria, urination, urgency, hematuria, dysuria , etc.
, which can usually be controlled and can return to normal after the end of radiotherapy
.
Patients should be encouraged to drink plenty of fluids and keep their bladder full before radiotherapy to reduce the dose to the bladder
.
Lower abdominal pain, dysuria, urination, urgency, hematuria, dysuria

5.
Radiation esophagitis

5.
Radiation esophagitis 5.
Radiation esophagitis

Radiation esophagitis symptoms such as retrosternal burning sensation and dysphagia occur in patients with esophageal cancer 2 to 3 weeks after radiotherapy, and most patients can tolerate these symptoms
.
After starting radiotherapy, patients should avoid eating hot, hard, and spicy food to reduce the irritation to the esophageal mucosa, eat small and frequent meals, and eat slowly
.

Radiation esophagitis symptoms such as retrosternal burning sensation and dysphagia occur in patients with esophageal cancer 2 to 3 weeks after radiotherapy, and most patients can tolerate these symptoms
.
After starting radiotherapy, patients should avoid eating hot, hard, and spicy food to reduce the irritation to the esophageal mucosa, eat small and frequent meals, and eat slowly
.
Burning sensation behind the breastbone, difficulty swallowing

If the symptoms are very obvious, antibiotics and glucocorticoids can be used to reduce the inflammation and edema of the mucosa, and appropriate intravenous nutrition can be given
.

If the symptoms are very obvious, antibiotics and glucocorticoids can be used to reduce the inflammation and edema of the mucosa, and appropriate intravenous nutrition can be given
.
Antibiotics and glucocorticoids to reduce mucosal inflammation and edema,

 

 

references

references

1.
Gao Rongjuan.
The effect of early comprehensive nursing intervention on the side effects of radiotherapy patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
World Latest Medical Information Digest.
2018,18(56):286.
doi:10.
19613/j.
cnki.
1671-3141.
2018.
56.
233.

1.
Gao Rongjuan.
The effect of early comprehensive nursing intervention on the side effects of radiotherapy patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
World Latest Medical Information Digest.
2018,18(56):286.
doi:10.
19613/j.
cnki.
1671-3141.
2018.
56.
233.

2.
Feng Qinfu, et al.
Diagnosis and treatment of radiation pneumonitis .
Chinese Journal of Radiation Oncology.
2021, 30(1):7-10.
doi:10.
3760/cma.
j.
cn113030-20200902-00448.

2.
Feng Qinfu, et al.
Diagnosis and treatment of radiation pneumonitis .
Chinese Journal of Radiation Oncology.
2021, 30(1):7-10.
doi:10.
3760/cma.
j.
cn113030-20200902-00448.
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