Side effects of radiation therapy

Nowadays, many cancer patients, regardless of whether they can undergo surgery, have to undergo radiotherapy. Radiotherapy, like chemotherapy, can inhibit the patient's cancer cells. At the same time, it can fight poison with poison and relieve some of the patient's symptoms. However, there may be some side effects during radiotherapy, which everyone needs to understand clearly.

A treatment method would ideally be effective and have no toxic side effects. However, it is often difficult to achieve the ideal requirements in tumor treatment: first, there is no guarantee that it will be effective or very effective; second, the toxic and side effects are often more than those of treatments for common internal medicine diseases.

The toxic and side effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy are obvious to all. Although reducing toxic reactions has been one of the key goals in the development of new drugs and new methods in recent years, the toxic reactions of radiotherapy and chemotherapy remain a major difficulty in clinical treatment.

Radiotherapy toxicity

Radiation response of normal tissue

Traditional Chinese medicine prevents and treats the toxic and side effects of radiotherapy. Traditional Chinese medicine cooperates with radiotherapy in several aspects: first, it reduces radiation reactions, such as dry mouth, cough, diarrhea and other symptoms; second, it improves the completion rate of radiotherapy, enhances the efficacy of radiotherapy, and reduces recurrence and metastasis; in addition, traditional Chinese medicine can treat radiation colitis, radiation cystitis, radiation myelitis, etc. The traditional Chinese medicines most commonly used in radiotherapy and chemotherapy include: Ganoderma lucidum (high-concentration Ganoderma lucidum preparations, Ganoderma lucidum spore powder for medical use), ginseng, etc.

Side effects of radiation therapy

Systemic toxicity and side effects:

Clinical manifestations: Radiation causes some chemical reactions in the body: production of over-acidified substances, accumulation in the liver, release of free radicals, and allergic reactions. These factors cause symptoms such as fatigue, loss of appetite, vomiting, and nausea. It usually appears a few days after radiation therapy. Some patients have radiation-sensitive constitutions. When the radiation dose reaches half or less than half, they experience general fatigue and a decrease in white blood cell count (routine blood tests show values ​​close to or below normal). It usually appears 2-3 weeks after radiotherapy, with symptoms mainly including a decrease in white blood cells and platelets.

Treatment method:

① Oral blood-raising drugs, such as vitamins, shark liver alcohol, high-concentration Ganoderma lucidum preparations, etc.

② For those whose white blood cell count is too low (less than 3X10'/mI or lower), granulocyte stimulating factor can be given intramuscular injection, generally 50-150P6 per day, for 5 consecutive days. The cells can basically return to normal. If it is still low, radiotherapy should be suspended and Ganoderma lucidum spore powder (medical) should be taken.