Things to note when breast cancer patients are receiving radiotherapy

Mild side effects may occur during radiotherapy for breast cancer. Patients need to pay attention to the following:

Be mindful of your diet

Breast cancer patients should avoid a single diet during radiotherapy; avoid eating too cold, too hot, greasy, spicy and other irritating foods; do not eat too much or too fast, but eat slowly so that the food is fully chewed to facilitate digestion and absorption; avoid abdominal pain and bloating caused by fast eating, and ensure that the body is fully hydrated;

Pay attention to oral and skin care

During radiotherapy, breast cancer patients should keep their oral cavity clean and hygienic, remove residual food in the mouth, rinse their mouth after meals, and brush their teeth 2-3 times a day. If oral ulcers occur, they should rinse their mouth with light salt water or anti-inflammatory mouthwash several times a day; Skin care methods: avoid friction and pressure on the skin in the radiotherapy area; avoid using highly irritating bath lotions; do not use overheated water for bathing, do not apply chemical ointments or tapes to the irradiated area, if the skin is red, swollen, itchy, or painful, advise the patient not to scratch with hands or apply drugs randomly, and should take medications as prescribed by the doctor to effectively control skin reactions and reduce the patient's pain and mental burden.

Regular check-ups and active exercise after radiotherapy

Regular check-ups should be conducted after radiotherapy, and changes in white blood cells should be observed through routine blood tests. If a decrease in white blood cells indicates a decrease in the body's immunity and the risk of infection, radiotherapy should be suspended and the ward should be ventilated and disinfected to keep the air fresh. Breast cancer patients should actively exercise after radiotherapy, do functional exercises for the affected upper limb, maintain smooth blood circulation, put on clothes on the affected side first, and undress on the healthy side first.