Radiation injury from radiotherapy is tissue damage caused by the use of high-energy particles to treat disorders such as cancer. Even normal, acceptable amounts of radiation needed for treatment can cause undesirable side effects.
Up to half of all cancer patients receive some form of radiation therapy as part of their treatment. Treatment can be administered externally or internally, although the former is more common. The machines used for external irradiation are increasingly specialized, so that they administer the appropriate dose in a superficial or deep area of the body.
Depending on the type and location of the cancer to be treated, internal sources of radiation may be targeted or ingested or placed inside the body in closed containers. They are implanted inside or near the tumor, either temporarily or permanently.
Some types of tumors can be removed by radiotherapy if the patient is able to tolerate the necessary dose. In other cases, radiation is used along with other treatment methods. It may be given before surgery to shrink the tumor until it is operable, or after surgery to try to kill any cancer cells that may remain.
Radiation from radiation therapy can be used to make patients with incurable diseases more comfortable by shrinking the tumor and reducing pain or pressure. Treatment given as a comfort measure is often known as palliative (hospice) care.
Damage to normal cells may appear in the period of time immediately after radiation therapy treatment or years after it has been completed. Symptoms that usually appear soon after treatment are loss of appetite, fatigue, and skin changes. Less frequently, patients present with headache, nausea, vomitinghair loss and weakness.
In the most severe cases, they may appear dehydration, seizures, and shock-like reactions. The severity of the effects depends on the region of the body receiving the treatment, the type of radiation used, and the dose. There are also individual variations in the response.
Skin lesions are common. They can take the form of redness, burn, dryness, itching or pain. Organs in the path of the radiation beam may show changes, including cicatrization, functional changes (decreased elasticity) and cell loss. Tissues that have rapid cell turnover are more severely affected (skin and mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract).
The most serious lesions include long-term bone marrow suppression and occasionally other cancers, especially sarcomas.
People receiving radiation therapy to the head and neck region have a high chance of developing dry mouth. The skin may be dry, and the area under the chin may sag. The sense of taste can be altered or lost. Some people experience hair loss, ear pain, or difficulty swallowing due to inflammation of the esophagus.
Radiation therapy treatments given to or around the breast, chest, or lung may also cause esophagitis and be accompanied by difficult swallowing.
Changes in lung tissue can lead to pneumonitis or pulmonary fibrosis. The patient may present with a cough. Treatments for the breast can cause pain and inflammation. Blood cell counts may drop.
Side effects of treating the stomach and abdominal area include nausea and diarrhea. In the pelvic region, radiation can cause urination difficulties and infertility in both men and women. These may also present symptoms of dryness, itching, or burning in the vagina.
The effects of radiation on the organism are well identified. Patients who undergo radioactive treatments must be informed about the possible side effects that they may suffer depending on the area being treated and the radiation dose used. They should receive advice on coping with minimal injuries, along with a description of symptoms that should cause them to see or visit a doctor.
folk remedies
One of the best known and perhaps the main treatment for radiation injury are preparations of aloe vera or aloe vera on broken skin areas. They have shown to have important healing properties even in the case of chronic ulcerations due to radiotherapy.
Another topical herb that can be effective against skin inflammation after radiation therapy is cream chamomile.
Some studies confirm its benefits for skin inflammation and wound healing. Other useful plants are calendula and St. John’s Wort. These therapies are beneficial, since skin reaction is one of the most common side effects of radiation therapy.
You may be interested in learning about remedies for elephantiasis caused by radiotherapy.
Guided imaging is a method used after radiation therapy, especially to improve pain. Some nutritional supplements help in wound healing: essential fatty oils (omega-3 and omega-6), vitamin A, vitamin B complex, and magnesium/zinc.
If the tumor is sensitive to radiotherapy, there are some plants that reduce the side effects. Ginseng is one that research suggests is beneficial
Other nutrients that appear to have protective effects include coenzyme Q10, kelp, and glutathione with L-cysteine and L-methionine.
Garlic and vitamin C support immune function. He grape seed extract It is a powerful antioxidant that protects against cell damage caused by free radicals.
Prevention
Part of preventing radiation injury involves conducting research on the disorder being treated. It’s a good idea to be sure that radiation is the best treatment available for a given type of cancer before you start.
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