What are the sequelae of radiotherapy for breast cancer

Breast cancer is a common malignant tumor disease, which seriously threatens the health of female patients. Radiotherapy is a common treatment method for breast cancer patients, but many patients also know that radiotherapy will have great side effects. Although it can kill cancer cells in the short term, the long-term effect is still worrying. Here is a detailed introduction to the sequelae of breast cancer radiotherapy.

Endogenous factors of breast cancer include endocrine dysfunction, hypothyroidism or poor prognosis of breast cancer patients with thyroid disease, etc. Exogenous factors include taking contraceptives for too long, taking estrogen for women without ovaries, menarche before the age of 13, high-fat diet, etc. Common sequelae of radiotherapy for breast cancer include the following:

1. Early local reactions: local skin redness and pain occur within 2 to 3 weeks of radiotherapy, which usually subside after 1 to 2 weeks; late local complications: hardening of the skin; lymphedema may occur 6 to 7 years after treatment, leading to persistent edema of the upper limb where surgery was performed.

2. The skin in the treatment area will become red, dry, stinging, and itchy. As the treatment progresses, the skin will become moist and blistered. At this time, the patient should expose the skin of the radiotherapy area to the air as much as possible to recover as soon as possible.

3. The long-term effect is poor. Although radiotherapy is effective in the short term, it cannot distinguish between cancer cells and normal cells. It will kill normal cells, damage the body's immunity, and cause cancer cells to come back. After a few years, the patient will also have problems with other organs, so the long-term effect is poor.

In view of the side effects of radiotherapy, Chinese medicine is often used as an auxiliary treatment in clinical practice. Chinese medicine is mild and non-irritating. It can not only prevent the spread and metastasis of cancer cells, but also repair the damaged body, effectively improve the patient's immunity, improve the effect of radiotherapy, and help patients complete the treatment process. For patients with poor physical condition in the late stage or who are too old to undergo radiotherapy and chemotherapy, using Chinese medicine alone is also a good choice. The purpose of Chinese medicine treatment is to allow patients to survive without pain and do their best to prolong their lives.