Radiation therapy To treat the disease, it uses ionizing radiation, usually x-rays. They were discovered in 1895, and since then have been used in medicine for diagnostic and treatment purposes.

What is radiation therapy?

Currently, doctors have accumulated extensive experience in the use of radiotherapy. 4 out of 10 people diagnosed with cancer (40%) are prescribed radiation therapy as part of their treatment. There are several types of it:

1. External beam radiation therapy, when radiation comes from outside a linear accelerator in the form of electrons, less often protons.

Internal radiotherapy. It can enter the body in the form of liquid and is absorbed by cancer cells. Or radioactive material is placed inside the tumor or in an area near it.

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How radiation therapy works in oncology

Radiation therapy destroys cancer cells in the treated area by damaging the DNA inside them. Although radiation for cancer also affects healthy cells, they, unlike malignant ones, have a greater ability to heal themselves.

The challenge of radiation therapy

An individual treatment plan is developed for each patient. The goal is to provide a high dose of radiation to the tumor and a low dose to surrounding healthy tissue. Healthy cells are able to recover after therapy. So, the goal of treatment is to ensure the maximum likelihood of cure while reducing the risk of development.

Let's take a closer look at how radiotherapy is used in the treatment of malignant diseases.

Radical radiation therapy in oncology

The doctor may recommend radiation therapy to destroy the tumor and rid the person of the disease. This is one of the most important procedures that will help cure the disease. Doctors may call it radical radiation therapy. The length of the course of treatment is determined by the location of the tumor, its type and size. In addition to this type of therapy, others can be used - surgery, treatment with cytostatic agents, hormonal therapy or targeted therapy.

What is radiation therapy for symptom control?

Radiotherapy before surgery

In some cases, radiation therapy is prescribed before surgery in order to reduce the size of the tumor, which will ensure safe and easy removal. This will also help reduce the risk of cancer cells spreading during surgery. This type of treatment is often used for certain types of cancer, such as colorectal cancer. It is also called neoadjuvant treatment or preoperative radiotherapy. Chemotherapy may be given at the same time as radiation.

Radiotherapy after surgery

Radiation for cancer may be prescribed after surgery to eliminate remaining malignant cells from the body - adjuvant therapy or postoperative therapy. This treatment reduces the likelihood of the disease returning. It is often used for malignant diseases of the breast, rectum, head and neck.

Radiotherapy and anticancer drugs

Cytostatic drugs can be prescribed before, during or after a course of radiation for cancer. This combination of these treatments is called chemoradiotherapy. Targeted therapy may also be prescribed along with radiotherapy.

Full body irradiation

This type of treatment is given to patients who are planning a bone marrow or stem cell transplant, such as for leukemia or lymphoma.

Along with chemotherapy, whole-body radiation is given to destroy bone marrow cells. Then a stem cell or bone marrow transplant is performed from a donor or the patient himself.

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Where is radiation therapy performed?

External radiotherapy is usually performed on an outpatient basis in the radiation therapy department of a cancer center.

Specialized equipment takes up a lot of space and requires specially trained staff. There are different types of linear accelerators. The choice for a particular patient is made by a clinical oncologist.

The radiotherapy procedure itself usually does not last more than a few minutes a day. However, it takes some time for the patient to achieve the exact position. An x-ray or scan may be taken before or during therapy to ensure that the radiation will be directed to the desired area.

Where is internal radiation therapy performed?

There are two main types of internal radiotherapy – radioactive implants and radioactive liquids.

Radioactive implants

The oncologist places a radioactive source inside the patient's body - in the cavity of the tumor or in an area near it. The source may be radioactive material in a small sealed metal tube or wire, or small "seeds". If an implant is recommended, treatment will most likely take place in a day hospital setting and will take several hours. Or you may have to stay in the hospital in a single room for several days with the implant. The patient will have to be alone in the room so as not to expose other people to radiation. Once the source is removed, it ceases to be radioactive.

Some types of radioactive "seeds" can be left in the body for a long time because they provide radiation in a small area and lose it over time. Doctors sometimes use this type of treatment in the early stages of prostate cancer.

Radioactive liquids

Treatment of certain types of tumors is carried out using radioactive liquid. This may be a drink or an intravenous injection. The fluid circulates in the bloodstream and is taken up by tumor cells. For some types of cancer, the doctor injects radioactive liquid into the specific part of the body with the tumor rather than intravenously.

After some types of such treatment, hospitalization is required, in a single room for several days. During this time, the level of radioactivity decreases to a safe level. This treatment is used for diagnoses of cancer. thyroid gland or a tumor process that has metastasized to the bones.

With some types of internal radiotherapy, the dose of radiation is so small that you can go home immediately after treatment.

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Who administers radiation therapy?

In the USA, Israel and a number of other countries, specialists in this treatment are called radiation oncologists. In the past, the term used was radiotherapist. In the UK, doctors who specialize in treating cancer using radiotherapy, chemotherapy and other drug treatments are called clinical oncologists.

Team of doctors

The patient works with a multidisciplinary team - a surgeon, radiation oncologists, radiologists (who specialize in interpreting medical images), pathologists, nurses, physical therapists and other specialists.

During radiation therapy, the radiation oncologist plans, monitors, and prescribes treatment. The patient interacts with the rest of the team throughout the course of treatment.

Radiology specialists

Doctors who prescribe and plan radiotherapy interact with scientists who specialize in radiology - medical physicists. They help ensure that radiation therapy equipment is accurate and safe. They also advise on the following issues:

• Which irradiation method should be prescribed?
• How long should the procedure last to receive the correct dose of radiation?

Other staff involved in the administration and planning of radiotherapy under the supervision of medical physicists may be dosimetrists. The patient can interact with the physicist during internal radiation therapy.

Radiation oncologists

Radiation oncologists work with linear accelerators, which deliver radiation. They are well trained in administering radiation therapy, caring for patients, and working with other specialists and medical physicists.

The patient will interact with radiation oncologists during the radiation therapy process. They advise and provide assistance if necessary. Provide advice on how best to manage any side effects.

Patients interact with nursing staff about medications, dressings, and information on how to cope with unwanted effects of treatment as well.

Questions to ask your doctor about radiotherapy:

1. Why is radiation prescribed in my case?
2. What type of radiation therapy will be used?
3. Will this be the only treatment or will other therapies also be used?
4. Is this therapy aimed at curing or reducing the symptoms of the disease?
5. What is the treatment plan?
6. How many treatment sessions will be required?
7. How long will the therapy last?
8. Where will the treatment need to take place?
9. Will I need therapy in the future?
10. What are the possible side effects?
11. Where can I get more information on radiotherapy?

Is it possible to live somewhere during treatment if it is too far to get to the hospital?

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Radiation therapy for cancer

What is radiation therapy?

Radiation therapy (x-ray therapy, telegamma therapy, electron therapy, neutron therapy, etc.) is the use of a special type of energy from electromagnetic radiation or beams of elementary nuclear particles that can kill tumor cells or inhibit their growth and division.

Some healthy cells exposed to radiation are also damaged, but most are able to recover. Tumor cells divide faster than the healthy cells around them. Therefore, radiation is more harmful to them. It is these differences that determine the effectiveness of cancer radiation therapy.

What types of cancer is radiation therapy used for?

Radiation therapy is used to treat a variety of cancers. Currently, more than half of patients suffering from one or another type of cancer are successfully treated with radiation.

Radiation can be used as a stand-alone treatment. Sometimes RT is given before surgery to shrink the tumor or after surgery to kill remaining cancer cells. Quite often, doctors use radiation together with anticancer drugs (chemotherapy) to destroy the tumor.

Even in those patients whose tumor cannot be removed, RT can reduce its size, reduce pain and improve general condition.

Equipment for radiotherapy

To carry out radiation therapy, special complex devices are used that allow directing the flow of therapeutic energy to the tumor. These devices differ in their operating principle and are used for different purposes. Some of them are used to treat superficial cancer (skin cancer), while others are more effective in treating tumors located deep in the body.

Your doctor will decide which device is best to use.

The radiation source can be brought to the diseased area in several ways.

If source:

• is located at a distance from the patient’s body, irradiation is called remote;
• placed in any cavity - intracavitary;
• injected directly into the diseased area in the form of liquid, wire, needles, probes - interstitial.

Stages of radiation therapy

When carrying out RT, three stages are conventionally distinguished:

1. pre-radial;
2. ray;
3. post-beam.

Each of these stages has its own characteristics that determine the rules of your behavior. Compliance with them will improve treatment results and reduce the incidence of side effects.

The process of radiation therapy

1. Preparation for treatment

During this period, additional studies are carried out to clarify the localization and assess the condition of healthy tissue surrounding the pathological focus.

Before starting a course of radiation, radiation doses are carefully calculated and its methods are determined, with the help of which it is possible to achieve maximum destruction of tumor cells and protection of healthy tissue in areas of the body subject to exposure.

Your doctor will decide what dose of radiation you need, how to administer it and how many sessions it will take.

A whole group of highly qualified specialists - physicists, dosimetrists, mathematicians - helps to carry out these complex calculations. It sometimes takes several days for a decision to be made. This procedure is called planning.

During the simulation (planning), you will be asked to lie quietly on the table until the doctor uses a special X-ray machine to determine the radiation field. There may be several such areas. The irradiation fields are indicated by dots or lines (marking), using special ink. This marking should remain on the skin until the end of treatment. Therefore, while taking a shower, try not to wash it off. If the lines and dots start to blur, tell your doctor. Don't draw the dots yourself.

Already in the pre-beam period:

1. do not use tinctures of iodine and other irritating agents on areas of the skin that will be exposed to radiation;
2. should not sunbathe;
3. If there are diaper rashes or rashes on the skin, you should point them out to your doctor. He will prescribe appropriate treatment (powders, ointments, aerosols);
4. If radiation therapy will be carried out to treat a tumor of the maxillofacial area, preliminary sanitation of the oral cavity (treatment or removal of carious teeth) is necessary. This is the most important measure for the prevention of radiation complications in the oral cavity.

2. How the treatment session goes

You will be asked to lie quietly on the table until the radiologist uses a special X-ray machine to determine the radiation field. There may be several such areas. The irradiation fields are designated by dots or lines (marking), using special ink for this.

This marking should remain on the skin until the end of treatment. Therefore, while taking a shower, try not to wash it off. If the lines and dots start to blur, tell your doctor. Don't draw the dots yourself.

Already in the pre-radiation period, you should not use iodine tinctures and other irritating agents on areas of the skin that will be exposed to radiation. Should not sunbathe. If there are diaper rashes or rashes on the skin, you should point them out to your doctor. He will prescribe appropriate treatment (powders, ointments, aerosols).

If radiation therapy is carried out to treat a tumor of the maxillofacial area, preliminary sanitation of the oral cavity (treatment or removal of carious teeth) is necessary. This is the most important measure for the prevention of radiation complications in the oral cavity.

Radiation therapy: how is treatment carried out?

1. Selection of treatment regimen using radiation therapy

Typically the course of treatment lasts 4-7 weeks. In some cases, when radiation therapy is carried out before surgery to reduce the size of the tumor or to alleviate the patient's condition, the course duration is 2-3 weeks.

Typically, radiation therapy sessions are carried out 5 times a week. Sometimes, in order to protect normal tissues in the irradiation zone, the daily dose is divided into 2-3 sessions. A two-day break at the end of the week allows healthy tissue to recover.

The decision on the total radiation dose and the number of sessions is made by the radiologist based on the size of the tumor and the location of the tumor, its type, your general condition and other types of treatment provided.

2. How the treatment session goes

You will be asked to lie on a treatment table or sit in a special chair. Based on the fields previously marked on the skin, the irradiation zones will be accurately determined. Therefore, you should not move during irradiation. You need to lie calmly, without much tension, breathing should be natural and uniform. You will be in the office for 15-30 minutes.

Before turning on the unit, the medical staff goes to another room and watches you on TV or through a window. You can communicate with him through the loudspeaker.

Some parts of radiotherapy machines may move and make noise during operation. Don't worry - the whole process is controlled.

The irradiation itself is painless. If you feel unwell during radiation exposure, tell your doctor immediately without taking any action on your own. The installation can be turned off at any time.

It is possible that already at the beginning of treatment you will feel a decrease in pain (if any). However, as a rule, the greatest therapeutic effect of radiation therapy occurs after completion of the course of treatment.

To obtain a good therapeutic effect, it is very important that you complete all prescribed treatment sessions.

How to behave during radiation therapy

The body's response to radiation therapy varies from person to person. However, in any case, the radiation therapy process represents a significant burden on the body. Therefore, you may develop a feeling of fatigue during treatment. In this regard, you should rest more. Go to bed when you feel the need.

The sensation usually goes away within 4-6 weeks after completion of treatment. However, you should not completely avoid physical activity, which increases the body's defenses and resistance to harmful influences. You can get recommendations on the selection and dosage of physical activity from your doctor and a physical therapy specialist.

During treatment you should follow some rules

1. Eat well. Try to stick to a balanced diet (ratio of proteins, fats and carbohydrates 1:1:4). Along with food, you need to take 2.5-3 liters of liquid per day (fruit juices, mineral water, tea with milk).
2. Give up bad habits (smoking, drinking alcohol), at least for the period of treatment.
3. Do not wear clothing that is tight to the areas of your body being irradiated. Items made from synthetic fabrics and wool are extremely undesirable. Loose, old cotton clothing is preferred. If possible, the areas of skin to be irradiated should be kept open.
4. Get outdoors more often.
5. Carefully monitor the condition of your skin. Irradiated skin sometimes appears tanned or darkened. By the end of treatment, in some cases, the irradiated areas of the body may become excessively moist (especially in the folds). This largely depends on your individual sensitivity to radiation. Tell your doctor or nurse about any changes you notice. They will give appropriate recommendations.
6. Do not use soap, lotions, deodorants, ointments, cosmetics, perfumes, talc or other similar products on the exposed area of ​​your body without consulting your doctor.
7. Do not rub or scratch the area of ​​skin being treated. Do not place warm or cold objects (heating pad, ice) on it.
8. When going outside, protect the exposed part of the skin from the sun (light clothing, a wide-brimmed hat).

What awaits the patient after radiation?

Side effect exposure

Radiation therapy, like any other type of treatment, can be accompanied by general and local (in the area of ​​​​irradiation on tissue) side effects. These phenomena can be acute (short-term, occurring during treatment) and chronic (developing several weeks or even years after the end of treatment).

Side effects of radiotherapy most often occur in tissues and organs directly exposed to radiation. Most side effects that develop during treatment are relatively mild and can be treated with medication or proper nutrition. They usually disappear within three weeks after the end of radiation therapy. Many patients experience no side effects at all.

During treatment, the doctor monitors your condition and the effect of radiation on body functions. If you experience any unusual symptoms during treatment (cough, sweating, fever, unusual pain), be sure to tell your doctor or nurse.

Common side effects of radiation therapy

Emotional condition

Almost all patients undergoing cancer treatment experience some degree of emotional stress. The most common feelings of depression, fear, melancholy, loneliness, and sometimes aggression are observed. As the general condition improves, these emotional disturbances become dull. Communicate more often with family members and close friends. Don't isolate yourself. Try to take part in the lives of the people around you, help them and do not refuse their help. Talk to a therapist. Perhaps he will recommend some acceptable methods of relieving tension.

Fatigue

Feelings of fatigue usually begin within a few weeks of starting treatment. It is associated with significant physical load on the body during radiation therapy and stress. Therefore, during the period of radiation therapy, you should slightly reduce your overall activity, especially if you are used to working at a strenuous pace. However, do not completely avoid housework, take part in family life. Do things that you enjoy more often, read more, watch TV, listen to music. But only until you feel tired.

If you do not want others to know about your treatment, you can take a vacation during the treatment period. If you continue to work, talk to your manager - he may change your work schedule. Don't be afraid to ask your family and friends for help. They will certainly understand your condition and provide the necessary support. After completing the treatment, the feeling of fatigue gradually disappears.

Blood changes

When large areas of the body are irradiated, the number of leukocytes, platelets and red blood cells in the blood may temporarily decrease. The doctor monitors hematopoietic function using blood tests. Sometimes, with pronounced changes, a break in treatment is taken for one week. In rare cases, medications are prescribed.

Decreased appetite

Radiation therapy usually does not cause nausea or vomiting. However, there may be a decrease in appetite. You must understand that in order to repair damaged tissues, you must eat enough food. Even if you don't feel hungry, you need to make an effort to eat a high-calorie, high-protein diet. It will allow you to better deal with side effects and improve treatment results cancer.

Some nutritional tips during radiation therapy:

1. Eat a variety of foods often, but in small portions. Eat when you want, regardless of your daily routine.
2. Increase the calorie content of food - add more butter if you like its smell and taste.
3. To increase your appetite, use a variety of sauces.
4. Between meals, consume kefir, a mixture of milk with butter and sugar, and yogurt.
5. Drink more fluids, preferably juices.
6. Always have a small supply of foods you like (approved for storage in the clinic where treatment is carried out) and eat them when you feel like eating something.
7. While eating, try to create conditions that improve your mood (turn on the TV, radio, or listen to your favorite music while eating).
8. Talk to your doctor about drinking a glass of beer with meals to increase your appetite.
9. If you have any medical conditions that require you to follow a specific diet, talk to your doctor about ways to vary your diet.

Side effects on the skin

The skin's reaction to radiation is manifested by redness in the area of ​​exposure. In many ways, the development of this phenomenon is determined by your individual sensitivity to radiation. Redness usually appears at 2-3 weeks of treatment. After radiation therapy is completed, the skin in these areas becomes slightly dark, as if tanned.

To prevent an overly pronounced skin reaction, you can use vegetable and animal oils ("Children's", "Velvet" cream, aloe emulsion), which should be applied to the skin after a radiation therapy session.

Before the session, you need to wash off the remaining cream with warm water. However, the skin should be lubricated with appropriate ointments and creams not from the first days of irradiation, but later, when the skin begins to redden. Sometimes, if there is a severe radiation reaction of the skin, a short break in treatment is taken.

For more information about skin care, consult your healthcare professional.

Side effects on the mouth and throat

If you are receiving radiation to the maxillofacial area or neck, in some cases the mucous membrane of the gums, mouth and throat may become red and inflamed, and you may experience dry mouth and pain when swallowing. Usually these phenomena develop in the 2-3rd week of treatment.

In most cases, they go away on their own within a month after completion of radiation therapy.

You can alleviate your condition if you follow the recommendations below:

1. Avoid smoking and alcohol during treatment as they also cause irritation and dryness of the oral mucosa.
2. Rinse your mouth at least 6 times a day (after sleep, after each meal, at night). The solution used must be at room temperature or refrigerated. What solutions are best for rinsing the mouth can be found out from your doctor.
3. Twice a day, gently, without pressing hard, brush your teeth with a soft toothbrush or cotton swab (after use, rinse the brush thoroughly and store dry).
4. Consult your dentist for the right toothpaste. It should not be harsh and irritate the mucous membranes.
5. If you use dentures, remove them before your radiation therapy session. If dentures rub your gums, it is better to temporarily stop using them.
6. Do not eat sour, spicy foods.
7. Try to eat soft foods (baby food, purees, cereals, puddings, jellies, etc.). Soak hard and dry foods in water.

Side effects on the mammary gland

When undergoing radiation therapy for a breast tumor, the most common side effect is skin changes (see section "Side effects on the skin"). In addition to following the above skin care recommendations, you should avoid wearing a bra during the treatment period. If you feel uncomfortable without it, use a soft bra.

Radiation therapy in the breast area may cause painful sensations and swelling, which will disappear or gradually decrease after treatment is completed. The irradiated mammary gland can sometimes become larger (due to fluid accumulation) or smaller (due to tissue fibrosis).

In some cases, these deformations of the shape of the gland can persist for the rest of life. You can find out more about the nature of changes in the shape and size of the mammary gland from your attending physician.

Radiation therapy may impair shoulder motion. Consult a physical therapy specialist about what exercises you should do to prevent this complication.

In some patients, radiation therapy may cause swelling of the arm on the side of the irradiated gland. This swelling may develop even 10 years or more after completion of treatment. Therefore, it is necessary to carefully monitor the condition of your hand and adhere to certain rules of behavior:

1. Avoid heavy lifting (no more than 6-7 kg), vigorous movements requiring excessive effort (pushing, pulling), or carrying a bag over your shoulder on the side of the irradiated breast.
2. Don't let it be measured arterial pressure, and also give injections (take blood) into the arm on the side of the radiation.
3. Do not wear tight-fitting jewelry or clothing on this arm. If you accidentally damage the skin of your hand, treat the wound with alcohol (but not alcohol tincture of iodine!) and cover the wound with a bactericidal plaster or apply a bandage.
4. Protect your hand from direct sunlight.
5. Maintain your optimal weight through a balanced, low-salt, high-fiber diet.
6. If you experience even occasional hand swelling that goes away after a night's sleep, contact your doctor immediately.

Side effects on the chest organs

During radiation therapy, you may have difficulty swallowing due to radiation inflammation of the esophageal mucosa. You can make eating easier by eating small meals more often, thinning thick foods, and cutting solid foods into pieces. Before eating, you can swallow a small piece of butter to make it easier to swallow.

You may develop a dry cough, fever, change in sputum color, and shortness of breath. If you notice these symptoms, tell your doctor immediately. He will prescribe special drug treatment.

Side effects on the rectum

This may occur during radiation therapy for cancer of the rectum or other pelvic organs. Radiation damage to the intestinal mucosa may cause pain and bloody issues, especially with difficult stools.

In order to prevent or reduce the severity of these phenomena, it is necessary to prevent constipation from the first days of treatment. This can be easily achieved by organizing an appropriate diet. It is necessary to additionally include kefir, fruits, raw carrots, stewed cabbage, prune infusion, tomato and grape juice in the diet.

Side effects on the bladder

Radiation therapy sometimes causes inflammation of the lining of the bladder. This can lead to frequent painful urination and increased body temperature. Occasionally, the urine becomes reddish in color. If you notice these symptoms, tell your doctor. These complications require special drug treatment.

How to behave after completion of radiation therapy (post-radiation period)

After completing a course of radiotherapy, it is very important to periodically check the results of your treatment. You should have regular follow-up examinations with a radiologist or the doctor who referred you for treatment. The time of the first follow-up examination will be determined by the attending physician upon discharge.

The schedule for further observation will be drawn up by the doctor at the clinic or dispensary. These same specialists will, if necessary, prescribe further treatment or rehabilitation for you.

Symptoms for which you should consult a doctor without waiting for the next follow-up examination:

1. the occurrence of pain that does not go away on its own within several days;
2. nausea, diarrhea, loss of appetite;
3. increased body temperature, cough;
4. the appearance of a tumor, swelling, unusual rashes on the skin;
5. development of limb edema on the irradiated side.

Care for irradiated skin

After completion of treatment, it is necessary to protect the irradiated skin from injury and sunlight for at least a year. Be sure to lubricate the irradiated areas of the skin with a nourishing cream 2-3 times a day, even when it has healed after treatment. Do not treat your skin with irritating products.

Ask your doctor which cream is best to use. Do not try to erase the marks left after irradiation; they will gradually disappear on their own. Give preference to showering over bathing. Do not use cold or hot water. When taking a shower, do not rub the irradiated areas of the skin with a washcloth. If irritation of irradiated skin persists for a long time, consult a doctor. He will prescribe appropriate treatment for you.

Remember: slight pain in an irradiated area is common and quite common. If it occurs, you can take mild painkillers. If pain is severe, consult a doctor.

Relationships with relatives and friends

Radiation therapy does not make your body radioactive. It should also be clearly understood that cancer is not contagious. Therefore, do not be afraid to communicate with other people, friends and relatives during and after treatment.

If necessary, you can invite those closest to you to have a joint conversation with your doctor.

Intimate relationships

In most cases, radiation therapy does not have a significant effect on sexual activity. The decrease in interest in intimate relationships is caused mainly by the general physical weakness that occurs during this treatment and stress. So don't avoid intimate relationships, which are an important part of a fulfilling life.

Professional activity

When radiation therapy is performed on an outpatient basis, some patients do not stop working at all during the course of treatment. If you did not work during treatment, you can return to your professional activity as soon as you feel that your condition allows it.

If your job involves strenuous physical activity or occupational hazards, you should consider changing your working conditions or profession.

Leisure

Pay more attention to rest. You will regain your strength over time, so do not return to full physical activity right away. Visit theaters and exhibitions. This will allow you to take your mind off unpleasant thoughts.

Make it a rule to take daily walks in the fresh air (walks in the park, in the forest). Communicate more with friends and family. With the knowledge of your attending physician, consult with a physical therapist and psychotherapist. They will help you choose adequate physical activity (health-improving gymnastics) and suggest ways to overcome stress.

Conclusion

We hope that this information will help you get rid of unnecessary nervous tension, make it easier to undergo radiation therapy, and understand what awaits you after it. All this contributes to your recovery.

For more detailed information on issues related to your health, please contact your physician.

Treatment results. Photos before and after

According to CT data, before treatment it was inoperable and after preoperative chemoradiation therapy it was subsequently successfully operated on.

Rectal tumor. CT scan before treatment

When conducting radiation therapy of the pelvic organs, IMRT makes it possible to achieve a uniform dose distribution of the irradiation zone and significantly reduce the dose by bladder, small intestine. Thus, conditions are created to reduce toxicity and improve tolerability of the treatment.

Anal cancer. CT scan before treatment

When carrying out chemoradiation treatment for anal cancer, the VMAT technique makes it possible to achieve a highly conformal isodose distribution and improve treatment tolerability (to avoid the development of reactions from the intestines - diarrhea, bladder - cystitis, genitals).

CT scan after chemoradiotherapy

When conducting postoperative radiation therapy for breast cancer using the IMRT technique, the risk of damage to the heart and lung tissue is reduced.

Radiotherapy is the main way to combat cancer. After irradiation, the human body needs to recover. To enhance protection and prevent relapse of the disease, you should choose the right rehabilitation process for the person’s condition.

Recovery after radiation therapy

Radiation affects not only cancer cells, but also healthy tissue, causing them harm. After the procedures performed, the human body can react with the occurrence of various internal and external phenomena. During this period, monitoring of the patient's condition is necessary.

Radiation sickness

The degree of development is affected by radiation exposure. Free radicals that are formed during irradiation affect not only cancer cells, but also healthy tissues.

Radiation sickness develops in everyone as a result of radiation attack, which is usually carried out after surgery. Radiotherapy may be given after chemotherapy. The overlap of these two processes leads to a strong inhibitory effect on all functional and vital properties of the body.

The effect of radiotherapy on the human body

Early and painful manifestations of radiation sickness include: nausea, swelling, pain, vomiting, fever, intoxication, cystitis, etc. Cells of the gastric and intestinal tracts can be damaged, immune system, bone marrow, reproductive organs and nervous tissue. Radiation sickness can have many stages. Each subsequent stage has its own complications, which worsens the patient’s condition.

Treatment of radiation sickness

Radiation sickness is characterized by general intoxication of the body. It will need to be restored with the help of complex methods of influence. They resort to phytohealth and phytodetoxification.

The preventive treatment regimen for radiation sickness includes special herbal preparations. This greatly alleviates patient suffering and improves performance.

Concomitant herbal medicine reduces the intensity of the development of symptoms of this disease. Temperature (fever), radiation burns, weakness, swelling, pain, and general intoxication can be eliminated using herbal medicine. Such rehabilitation significantly increases the chances of recovery and overall success.

Radiation exposure causes burns

Conventional thermal burns and burns after radiation therapy differ significantly from each other. The latter do not appear immediately. First, the burn is characterized by redness of the skin at the site of penetration of ionizing radiation into the tissue. Affect the degree of burn damage.

Skin burn after radiation therapy

Acute cutaneous burn lesions as side effects of radiation therapy can be divided into three types:

• Dry epidermis - redness, peeling of the skin, swelling at the site of the lesion;
• Erythema – complications such as redness, swelling of the skin and itching are observed;
• Wet epidermis - the burn site is covered with many papules containing exudate and, possibly, pus.

After a long time, radiation dermatitis may develop in the area treated with radiation. It is characterized by swelling or fibrosis of the skin, and radiation ulcers may appear. When breasts or organs are irradiated chest, the lungs are affected. The development of radiation pneumosclerosis or pneumofibrosis may occur.

To prevent burns after irradiation, you need to use lotions containing a 10% dimexide solution. Sea buckthorn or rosehip oils may also help. Special ointments are often used to treat affected areas: iruksol, levosin, dibunol, dermozolin, sinalar, prednisolone. With this therapy, the consequences of burns will be minimal.

Which drug will help during the recovery period?

Use of all kinds medicines forms the basis of maintenance treatment. Stands out effective remedy, thanks to which the body quickly responds to regenerative therapy. We are talking about whey, which is enriched with lactates and is called “Hydrolactivine”.

Hydrolaactivin - recovery after irradiation

The distinctive features of this drug include the presence of:

• Complex impact on complications of radiation;
• Easy to digest by the body;
• Simplicity and safety of consumption;
• Compatible with many drugs.

If you accompany the radiotherapy process with the use of this drug and do not stop taking it during the period after surgery, the restoration of the skin exposed to radiation will be much faster. “Hydrolactivine” has an anti-inflammatory effect, enhances digestion, normalizes intestinal function, which restores the activity of the gastric and intestinal tracts.

Radiation often causes complications associated with the development of stomatitis. If you regularly rinse your mouth and throat with a solution of “Hydrolaktivina”, the mucous membranes oral cavity will recover faster. Dryness and discomfort will disappear, pain will decrease.

This drug normalizes metabolism, increases immunity and stress resistance, which is important for returning the body to normal after radiotherapy. This means that we recommend Hydrolaactivin as an accompanying therapy, as a drug that can mitigate many side effects.

Appeal to traditional medicine

Post-radiation rehabilitation may include not only the use of medications. A sufficient effect is possible through the use of folk medicinal drugs based on many products.

A decoction of pine needles helps with radiotherapy Apples to combat radionuclides Walnuts restore health after irradiation

Consequences radiation exposure will help eliminate the use of specially prepared medicinal herbal preparations:

• Needles. Needles from any coniferous tree (fir, pine or spruce) are suitable. You just need to fill them with water, boil for 5 minutes and leave in a warm place overnight. The patient should take this infusion instead of water all day. Then a break is taken for a day, after which the intake of pine liquid is repeated. The treatment process should take at least a month.

The needles have an enveloping effect and are able to remove radionuclides from the body, relieving it of intoxication. The intake of pine liquid should be accompanied by proper nutrition.

• Apples. According to oriental medicine, these fruits are valuable products. The healing effect is associated with pectins, organic acids that make up apples. Pectin helps remove mercury, lead, strontium, cesium and others from the body harmful substances. An apple diet will be of great benefit in the fight against radionuclides.
• Sea buckthorn oil. It is enough to take a teaspoon of this product for a month. This treatment can also help the body get rid of radionuclides. Sea buckthorn oil can be replaced with decoctions and infusions of young sea buckthorn leaves and branches. Postoperative complications will become less pronounced.
• Walnuts. Fruits or infusions, decoctions of nut partitions help remove radionuclides, mercury compounds, lead, and strontium from the body. Therefore, their use can also help after irradiation.

Appeal to folk medicine justified in almost all cases. The rehabilitation period associated with radiation therapy is no exception. When combined with other restorative methods, this method can work wonders.

A proper diet will speed up recovery

Preventing unwanted effects from radiation exposure will depend on maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Proper nutrition plays an important role. First of all, it should be taken seriously by patients who have undergone radiation to the abdomen or pelvis.

Most likely, the attending physician will prescribe a certain diet during treatment, which should be strictly adhered to. The diet will be filled with low-fat foods, limited in lactose or fiber. During rehabilitation therapy, such a diet should last at least two weeks. New, more nutritious foods are then introduced into it consistently and gradually.

Further nutrition allows for a small consumption of rice, mashed potatoes, and low-fat varieties of cheese. It is temporarily better not to consume any dairy products, hot and spicy foods, gas-forming foods (cabbage, peas, soybeans, beans), fried foods, caffeine-containing dishes and drinks - such a diet will be justified. To support the body during the rehabilitation period, it is recommended to consume black currants and pumpkin.

The meals themselves should be fractional, the portions should be small, but the number of meals per day should be up to six times. It is worth paying attention to the drinking regime, especially taking medicinal decoctions. Nettle, eleutherococcus, radiola rosea, lungwort, bergenia, celery - all these plants will help the recovery process.

Therapeutic nutrition during the rehabilitation period has the main goal of preventing complications associated with the stomach and intestines. Diarrhea and mucositis are quite common consequences of radiation exposure. Therefore, it is very important what food enters the patient’s body.

How to behave during the rehabilitation period

The rehabilitation period should be accompanied by close monitoring by the attending physician. He must be aware of all the changes that appear in the patient during the period of rehabilitation therapy. Special medications will be prescribed and taken according to a specific schedule.

Light physical activity during this period will not hurt - this will provoke the restoration of the body's defenses. Of course, intense running will not do. But walking in the fresh air will have the desired effect. During the first month, you will feel general weakness and a desire to lie down, however, you do not need to allow the body to stagnate.

Plenty of fluid intake (at least three liters per day) is recommended to reduce the negative effects. You can drink both regular and mineral water. The consumption of natural juices, fruit drinks and compotes is also not excluded. You just have to avoid consuming sugary carbonated drinks.

It is necessary to eliminate bad habits - the body should not be saturated with toxins. True, to improve appetite, patients are allowed to consume beer (200 ml) or red wine (100 ml). But such a retreat is possible only after approval by the attending physician.

You'll have to start eating a balanced diet. You should adhere to the recommended ratio of carbohydrates, fats and proteins (4:1:1). A nutritious diet should exclude the consumption of sausage, smoked products and other harmful delicacies. The diet should consist only of natural food that does not contain flavoring additives.

Conclusion

Radiation exposure to the body, even for the purpose of destroying cancer cells, is stress for the human body.

Completely safe methods of treating cancer have not yet been found. It is important to properly prepare the patient for the procedure itself and minimize the consequences.

Proper nutrition, the use of medications and procedures, the use of herbal medicine and folk remedies, maintaining a healthy lifestyle - together will help a person escape from cancer and successfully recover after treatment.

Radiation therapy is the effect on the patient’s body of ionizing radiation of chemical elements with pronounced radioactivity in order to cure tumors and tumor-like diseases. This research method is also called radiotherapy.

Why is radiation therapy needed?

The basic principle that formed the basis of this section of clinical medicine was the pronounced sensitivity of tumor tissue, consisting of rapidly multiplying young cells, to radioactive radiation. Radiation therapy is most widely used for cancer (malignant tumors).

Goals of radiation therapy in oncology:

1. Damage, followed by death, of cancer cells when exposed to both the primary tumor and its metastases to internal organs.
2. Limiting and stopping the aggressive growth of cancer into surrounding tissues with the possible reduction of the tumor to an operable state.
3. Prevention of distant cell metastases.

Depending on the properties and sources of the radiation beam, the following types of radiation therapy are distinguished:

It is important to understand that a malignant disease is, first of all, a change in the behavior of various groups of cells and tissues internal organs. Various variations in the relationship between these sources of tumor growth and the complexity, and often unpredictability, of cancer behavior.

Therefore, radiation therapy for each type of cancer gives a different effect: from complete cure without use additional methods treatment until there is absolutely no effect.

As a rule, radiation therapy is used in combination with surgical treatment and the use of cytostatics (chemotherapy). Only in this case can you count on positive result and good prognosis for future life expectancy.

Depending on the location of the tumor in the human body, the location of vital organs and vascular lines near it, the choice of irradiation method occurs between internal and external.

• Internal irradiation is carried out when a radioactive substance is introduced into the body through the alimentary tract, bronchi, vagina, bladder, by introduction into blood vessels or by contact during surgical intervention(needling of soft tissues, spraying of the abdominal and pleural cavity).
• External irradiation is carried out through the skin and can be general (in very rare cases) or in the form of a focused beam on a specific area of ​​the body.

The source of radiation energy can be both radioactive isotopes of chemicals and special complex medical equipment in the form of linear and cyclic accelerators, betatrons, and gamma installations. A banal X-ray machine used as a diagnostic equipment can also be used as a therapeutic method for some types of cancer.

The simultaneous use of internal and external irradiation methods in the treatment of a tumor is called combined radiotherapy.

Depending on the distance between the skin and the source of the radioactive beam, the following are distinguished:

• Remote irradiation (teletherapy) – distance from the skin 30-120 cm.
• Close-focus (short-focus) – 3-7 cm.
• Contact irradiation in the form of application to the skin, as well as external mucous membranes, of viscous substances containing radioactive drugs.

How is the treatment carried out?

Side effects and consequences

Side effects of radiation therapy can be general and local.

Common side effects of radiation therapy:

• Asthenic reaction in the form of worsening mood, appearance of symptoms chronic fatigue, loss of appetite followed by weight loss.
• Changes in general analysis blood in the form of a decrease in red blood cells, platelets and leukocytes.

Local side effects of radiation therapy include swelling and inflammation at the sites of contact of the beam or radioactive substance with the skin or mucous membrane. In some cases, the formation of ulcerative defects is possible.

Recovery and nutrition after radiation therapy

The main actions immediately after a course of radiation therapy should be aimed at reducing intoxication that can occur during the breakdown of cancer tissue - which is what the treatment was aimed at.

This is achieved using:

1. Drink plenty of water while maintaining the excretory functions of the kidneys.
2. Eating foods rich in plant fiber.
3. Applications vitamin complexes with sufficient amounts of antioxidants.

Reviews:

Irina K., 42 years old: Two years ago I underwent radiation after I was diagnosed with cervical cancer in the second clinical stage. For some time after treatment there was terrible fatigue and apathy. I forced myself to go to work earlier. The support of our women's team and work helped me get out of depression. The nagging pain in the pelvis stopped three weeks after the course.

Valentin Ivanovich, 62 years old: I underwent radiation after I was diagnosed with laryngeal cancer. I couldn’t talk for two weeks – I had no voice. Now, six months later, hoarseness remains. No pain. There is still a slight swelling on the right side of the throat, but the doctor says that this is acceptable. There was a slight anemia, but after taking pomegranate juice and vitamins, everything seemed to go away.