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Radiation exposure in oncology consequences. What are radiosensitizers and radioprotectors? Brachytherapy - Internal Radiation Therapy

Consequences and rehabilitation after radiotherapy take place due to the toxic effect of ionizing radiation on tissues adjacent to the tumor. Radiation therapy is used in 60% of oncological diseases. The therapeutic result of radiological therapy is the destruction of cancer cells and the stabilization of the malignant process.

This seems obvious, but unfortunately it hasn't always been technically possible in the past. The most significant advance in radiotherapy in recent years has been the development of instruments that can deliver radiation more accurately. Feel free to bring in your radiation oncologist to explain the steps that have been taken for your treatment.

The system registers and checks '

More than 25 years ago, radiation oncologists, physicists and suppliers of radiation therapy machines introduced a system that continuously records all treatment parameters. The computer thus sends the processing technical data directly to the processing machine without the risk of error during manual data transfer. During irradiation, everything that happens to the machine and processing table is also recorded. Therefore, at any time you can check exactly what has been done. This is completely unique in the medical world!

Possible consequences after radiotherapy

patients experience side effects, the severity of which depends on the duration of the course of radiation therapy and the depth of ionizing irradiation of tissues. In most cases, the occurrence of radiographic complications is purely individual. Most often, an inadequate reaction of the body of a cancer patient is observed in the form of skin lesions.

The beam detector can be applied to a specific location on the patient's body where the beams enter or leave the body. The amount of transmitted radiation is then precisely determined. The resulting measurements can then be compared with the dose to be found there, as calculated by the physical planning system. If we notice a difference, we will investigate the cause. An example is the measurement with a special plate of the dose leaving the body.

Quality control procedures

The medical physicist and the manipulators of the machine have a whole series of systems for checking the correct execution of the programmed treatment.

"College of Radiation Therapy"

Radiation oncologists share their experience and quality control data in the quality team. This official organization is called the "College of Radiation Therapy".

The consequences after radiotherapy include the following symptoms:

Skin reactions:

Skin that has been irradiated

As a result of the action of ionizing radiation, the epithelial layer becomes dry and sensitive to mechanical stimuli. This requires careful and meticulous skin care.

Skin reactions after radiotherapy are manifested by reddening of the epidermis, a sensation of "burning" and soreness of the affected area. Such processes are similar to the clinical picture of a sunburn, but are characterized by an aggressive course. Radiological damage to the skin is accompanied by the formation of blisters, which ultimately act as an incoming gateway for bacterial infection. If not carried out treatment after radiotherapy, then this is fraught with the development of purulent inflammation of the skin.

The role of the patient in preventing side effects

The oncology team will likely give you advice on how to proceed with your treatment. You will receive special brochures about your individual treatment. If you are not well aware of this, please contact your oncologist. For example, you can discuss the following with your doctor.

Skin care during treatment, optimal nutrition during treatment, oral care during treatment, possible transport problems during treatment, immobilization equipment used during treatment. Getting information from the medical team is not enough: patients must follow the recommendations! If this is not possible or desirable, then it is important to have an honest discussion with the radiotherapy team. They have the potential to offer solutions.

Pathology of the skin, as a rule, is diagnosed in the second week after the end of the course of radiation therapy. Complications of radiology in most cases disappear after 1-2 months.

In oncological practice, it is customary to divide three degrees of radiation damage to the epithelium:

  1. 1 degree. Slight erythema (redness) of the skin surface.
  2. 2 degree. Patients have hyperemia, peeling and skin integument.
  3. 3 degree. This is the most severe variant of the course of radiological dermatitis with extensive redness and keratinization of the epidermal layer of the skin.

Respiratory system dysfunction:

Contact the radiotherapy team

Any problem or side effect must be reported to the medical team, whether it is a planned side effect or not. The medical team will attempt to collect data by asking patients to complete questionnaires and paperwork. In addition, it will always be possible to personally meet with a radiation oncologist for a personal discussion.

Of all the good advice we can give patients, this is one of the most important: stop smoking if you still smoke. It is very important to put in a lot of effort because continued smoking can cause other cancers, it weakens patients, and there is also a risk that radiotherapy treatment is less effective! This is due to the fact that smokers have less oxygen in their tissues. In addition, continued smoking may also increase the side effects of treatment. So seek help and stop!

This symptomatology develops in cancer patients who have undergone radiological treatment of the organs of the chest region. Such patients often complain of shortness of breath, bouts of dry cough and sharp pain. Further progression of the respiratory complication is accompanied by an unproductive cough, which does not bring the slightest relief to the patient.

Side effects of radiation therapy are often localized

Unlike so-called "systemic" treatments, radiation therapy is a local treatment. This means that beneficial and undesirable effects are mostly limited to the region actually exposed. If a patient reports pain in one leg when the arm is irradiated, it is unlikely that the two are related. There are some exceptions such as fatigue.

Short and long term side effects

Early side effects: some problems occur during or shortly after radiation therapy, in hours - days or weeks; Late side effects: some problems appear only after a few weeks or even months; For some side effects, there is a potential correlation between them: the absence of some short-term side effects potentially predicts the absence of other long-term side effects. Therefore, each patient will be individually informed by their radiation oncologist about the possible side effect that could be expected after a certain treatment.

Pathology of the mucous membranes:

A long course of irradiation of the abdominal cavity and pelvic organs can provoke the formation of symptoms of dryness of the intestinal mucosa or organs of the urinary system.

Complications after radiotherapy of intoxication nature:

  • Intoxication

To reduce the symptoms of intoxication, a cancer patient should balance the daily diet, increase the duration of sleep and avoid heavy physical exertion.

Some short term side effects

Acute side effects are mostly temporary. For most patients, late, long-term side effects will also disappear. In the paragraphs below, we will look at some of the side effects.

Some long term side effects

Joint or muscle stiffness, skin discoloration, decreased breathing ability. Specific skin care recommendations. Skin problems are quite special and we reserve a special paragraph.

In external beam therapy, the radiation fields first pass through the skin, in all cases, until the target volume is reached inside the human body. Because the skin is an active organ that contains rapidly proliferating cells, the skin may suffer more from radiation therapy. On the other hand, the energy of the radiation beams used is quite high, which means that the maximum radiation dose will usually not be at the level of the skin, but much deeper. However, skin problems are usually associated with radiation therapy.

Rapid rehabilitation after radiotherapy

After undergoing a radiological course of therapy, each patient experiences side effects to one degree or another. In general, in such cancer patients after 7-10 days there is a complete normalization of the function of internal organs.

This explains why some people say that radiation therapy "burns" the skin. However, radiation dermal toxicity is still less common, but especially if the targeted amount of radiotherapy is inadvertently at a very short distance from the skin, or if a high radiotherapy dose is needed.

Possible skin problems may require preventive measures, and as soon as problems arise, a series of treatments is also available. We do not advise patients to start using products, creams, milks, lotions, or any other medications without first discussing with the radiotherapy team. They have a more experienced approach to the optimal approach. As an example, it should be noted that currently skin problems are most often managed by the use of specific modern dressings, and not creams or ointments.

  1. Strict adherence to the course of rehabilitation therapy prescribed by the oncologist.
  2. Moderate physical activity, which helps to tone the body and hyperventilate the lungs.
  3. Fresh air. The patient's stay in the open air increases blood oxygen saturation, which significantly improves well-being.
  4. Increased fluid intake. sick after radiotherapy You need to consume at least 3 liters of water daily. These measures are aimed at stimulating the processes of removing toxins and free radicals from the body.
  5. Rejection of bad habits. Chronic tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption increases the amount of toxins in the patient's body, which in some cases can be life-threatening.
  6. Balanced diet. The diet during this period should include an increased amount of fruits and vegetables. During the course, foods high in preservatives and food coloring should be avoided.
  7. To prevent mechanical injury to the skin in the zone of radioactive exposure, patients are advised to wear loose-fitting clothing exclusively from natural fabrics.

Consequences and rehabilitation after radiotherapy include mandatory preventive visits to the oncologist, which allows timely identification and diagnosis. During a preventive examination, the doctor conducts visual and instrumental examination of the skin. If necessary, the patient may be prescribed x-rays, ultrasound examinations and analysis for.

Discuss all this with a radiation oncologist! Skin problems are most often temporary. Progress can cure 70-90% of patients with Hodgkin's disease, depending on the stage of the initial enlargement and various prognostic factors. The goals of treatment, of course, provide each patient with the maximum likelihood of recovery without complications and with the slightest impact on quality of life. Paradoxically, in a potentially treatable condition, cure and survival are not always the same in the long term.

But in such treatment there is one significant drawback - not only pathological, but also healthy cells are damaged.

The state of health worsens in proportion to the duration of exposure to radiation and its one-time volumes. The first symptoms are nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite, after which there is a decrease in immune defense, progressive weakness appears, the normal functioning of the bone marrow is disrupted, hair falls out, anemia develops, shortness of breath, cough, swelling, mood changes, poor sleep. The skin also suffers, on which redness may appear, itching and peeling begin.

Significant efforts have made it possible to assess the impact of late complications on survival in the very long term. Studies have shown excess mortality in cured patients and have identified specific therapeutic parameters responsible for complications. Late complications continue to be a major challenge for defining a therapeutic strategy tailored to prognostic groups. Patients are being integrated into this approach and there is still room for improvement in an attempt to understand and, if possible, limit the actual impact of treatment on late complications.

The question arises about the proper recovery of the body after irradiation. Scientists have investigated this process and developed recommendations to alleviate the condition of cancer patients.

Recovery methods after irradiation

For a complete and effective restoration of the normal state of the body, the following recommendations must be followed:

  • Every day drink at least 3 liters of liquid (pure water, natural juices, mineral water, compotes, no soda).
  • For self-healing, the body needs fresh air, so the room in which the patient is located should be regularly ventilated, and the person himself should be more often on the street, use oxygen pillows.
  • To maintain immune protection, it is recommended to take a complex of various vitamins and immunomodulatory drugs.
  • Homeopathic remedies that are based on natural extracts of medicinal plants or herbal teas have an effective effect.
  • Any bad habits are contraindicated.
  • Observe the regime of the day, sleep a sufficient number of hours, rest.
  • It is impossible to overexert yourself, but it is simply necessary to perform light physical activity to keep the body in good shape.
  • In rare cases, a doctor may prescribe a small amount of red wine to increase appetite.
  • Do not stay in direct sunlight for a long time.
  • Proper nutrition is of great importance: a sufficient amount of fruits and vegetables, only natural products, the rejection of spicy, smoked, highly salty or fatty foods.
  • Observe personal hygiene, treat affected skin with a moisturizer.
  • Preference is given to loose clothing made from natural fabrics.

The recovery period must necessarily take place under the supervision of the attending physician.

Secondary leukemias and myelodysplasias were first described. The cumulative incidence rate 10 years after the diagnosis of Hodgkin's disease can be as high as 10%. Age at initial treatment is a controversial risk factor. The risk varies depending on the type of treatment. After chemotherapy or radiochemotherapy, the risk is higher than after exclusive radiation therapy. The risk is related to the nature of the chemotherapy, the number of cycles, the total dose, and the number of alkylating agents. After exclusive radiotherapy, the leukogen risk is lower and depends on the importance of the irradiated volume.

Equally important is the mood of the patient, his desire to lead a full existence. You should do what you love, spend more time with loved ones.



How fast is recovery after radiation

As a rule, if you follow all the prescriptions and recommendations of the attending physician, the rehabilitation period will last no longer than 3 months.

The cumulative incidence after 15 years is very low or zero after local exposure on one side of the diaphragm and increases after intense exposure. After chemotherapy-associated radiation, the leukemia risk of radiation exposure is controversial. Other risk factors are age at diagnosis of Hodgkin's disease, with increased risk after age 40 or 50, advanced stages, and controversial splenectomy. The incidence of leukemia ranges from 3 to 9 years after treatment and reaches a plateau at 10 to 15 years.

Secondary non-Hodgkin's lymphomas occur 5 to 15 years after initial treatment; the cumulative incidence rate at 15 years varies from 1 to 4-5%. Factors contributing to the development of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma are not unambiguous: advanced age, male sex, predominantly lymphocytic-type histology, the combination of karyolysin radiochemotherapy, immune depression associated with Hodgkin's disease and secondary to treatment, the role of viruses such as Epstein-Barr virus and human immunodeficiency virus, may also be predisposing factors.

A proper diet and plenty of fluids will help to get rid of toxins that accumulate in the body faster. Moderate physical activity - gradually accustom the body to stress.

Consultation with an oncologist on recovery after irradiation

Recovery after irradiation of the throat may be accompanied by a feeling of dryness, soreness, itching, and the appearance of stomatitis. Rinses are prescribed with special infusions or preparations. It is forbidden to eat too hot or cold foods.

Recovery after irradiation of the prostate is aimed at resuming normal urination, because the course of recovery leads to incontinence, the appearance of blood in the urine, urinary retention, narrowing of the urethra, erectile dysfunction.

Secondary solid tumors are more common than leukemias and lymphomas and their impact on long-term mortality is greater. Several risk factors have been identified. Radiation therapy seems to play an important role beyond personal risk factors. The risk of solid tumors is related to the extent of exposure. Indeed, most of the tumor sites for which the risk is increased correspond to the sites included in the irradiated volumes. The risk is even higher when the radiation dose is high. Chemotherapy on a global scale, and some molecules are associated with an excess risk of second tumors.