TCM treatment of adverse reactions after radiotherapy for ovarian cancer

Radiotherapy is an important auxiliary therapy for ovarian cancer and is generally used before or after surgery. Radiotherapy has side effects. Patients may experience adverse reactions in the digestive tract and urinary tract during radiotherapy, and may also be accompanied by a decrease in blood count. It is advisable to use traditional Chinese medicine for symptomatic treatment to reduce the damage of radiotherapy to the body.

Gastrointestinal reactions

Main symptoms: nausea and vomiting, poor appetite and abdominal distension, lack of appetite, may be accompanied by mild abdominal pain, dizziness, and weakness in the limbs.

Treatment principle: Strengthen the spleen and stomach, reduce adverse effects and stop vomiting.

Prescription: Xuanfu Daizhe Decoction with modifications.

Traditional Chinese medicine: 9g of Inula flower, 15g of magnetite, 2 slices of ginger, 6g of Pinellia ternata, 9g of Codonopsis pilosula, 3g of roasted licorice, and 6g of jujube.

Urinary tract reactions

Main symptoms: irritability and thirst, fullness in the chest and abdomen, frequent and painful urination, accompanied by spontaneous sweating, night sweats, fatigue and weakness, bright red tongue with thin coating, short and dark urine, and thick leucorrhea.

Treatment principle: clear away heat and dampness, relieve stranguria and relieve pain.

Prescription: 30 grams each of raw astragalus and plantain, 15 grams each of caesalpinia seeds and winter melon seeds, 10 grams each of ginseng, poria, atractylodes, scutellaria, and rehmannia root, and 6 grams of licorice.

Lowered blood count

Main symptoms: dizziness, vertigo, pale complexion, fatigue, skin purpura, etc. Western medicine refers to decreased white blood cell count and anemia symptoms.

Treatment principle: tonify Qi and generate blood.

Prescription: Danggui Buxue Decoction with modifications.

Chinese medicine: 30 grams of Astragalus, 10 grams of Angelica, 9 grams of Atractylodes, 5 grams of American ginseng, and 6 grams of Rubia cordifolia.