Experts talk about the complications of rectal cancer that may occur during radiotherapy

When receiving radiotherapy for rectal cancer, patients may experience some complications, some of which are more serious. Patients should be mentally prepared when receiving radiotherapy. What are the common complications of rectal cancer during radiotherapy? The following is a list of common complications of rectal cancer during radiotherapy.

In general, common complications of radiotherapy for rectal cancer include:

1) Local damage:

① Radiation dermatitis: It is a common complication of rectal cancer. In the early stage of radiation, the skin may become red and itchy, similar to changes caused by sun dermatitis. In the middle stage of radiation, the skin may become pigmented, thickened and rough, and the pores may become coarse and dark. In the late stage of radiation, moist peeling may occur in the skin folds and groin area, and the skin may become locally edematous. In severe cases, blisters may appear, followed by rupture, erosion, and even ulcers.

② Radiation enteritis: In the middle and late stages of radiation, patients may feel abdominal discomfort, which worsens after eating or drinking. In severe cases, intestinal obstruction may occur, which is also a common complication of rectal cancer. This is due to the mucosal congestion and edema caused by radiation damage to the intestines; ③ Soft tissue fibrosis: It occurs in the late stages of radiation and is often manifested as local tissue hardening and loss of normal tissue elasticity.

2) Systemic adverse reactions:

① Gastrointestinal reactions: Patients often experience dry mouth and dry stool in the early stages of radiotherapy; in the middle and late stages of radiotherapy, patients may experience complications of rectal cancer such as loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting.

② Bone marrow suppression: This complication of rectal cancer often occurs in the late stage of radiotherapy, manifested as general fatigue, and hematological examinations reveal a decrease in the total white blood cell (WBC) count.

The above is an introduction to the common complications of rectal cancer during radiotherapy. I hope it will be helpful to everyone. If these complications of rectal cancer occur, they must be treated actively to avoid serious impact on the condition of rectal cancer and hinder the treatment of rectal cancer.