What are the side effects of radiotherapy for lung cancer? These are

Radiotherapy kills both cancer cells and normal cells in the body, so there are often some side effects after radiotherapy for lung cancer. The most common one is radiation pneumonitis, radiation esophagitis, radiation myelopathy, etc. Radiation can affect the skin, causing symptoms such as itching and erosion. Mucosal reactions are also common during radiotherapy.

Lung cancer is a highly prevalent malignant disease. When the disease develops to the middle or late stage and does not meet the surgical indications, radiotherapy can be chosen to kill cancer cells in the body to prolong survival. However, during radiotherapy, in addition to killing cancer cells, it also kills normal cells in the body, so radiotherapy often brings some side effects. So, what are the side effects of radiotherapy for lung cancer?
1. Radiation pneumonia <br/>This is the most common side effect of radiotherapy, which usually occurs about 6 weeks after radiotherapy. It is often accompanied by coughing symptoms, but the use of antibiotics and cough suppressants has no obvious effect. Generally, the cough will last for more than 6 months before it can be relieved; if it is more serious, it may cause extensive fibrosis in the lungs, not only coughing, chest pain, shortness of breath, fever, but even respiratory failure.
2. Radiation esophagitis <br/>During the radiotherapy of lung cancer, the radiation may damage the esophagus and cause radiation esophagitis. At this time, there are often uncomfortable symptoms such as sternum pain, throat pain, nausea, fever, fatigue, etc. In severe cases, it will affect normal eating, and symptoms such as difficulty breathing and vomiting blood may also occur.
3. Radiation myelopathy <br/>If radiotherapy is not performed properly, it may affect the spinal cord and cause radiation myelopathy. Since the spinal cord function is affected, it will be accompanied by symptoms such as numbness, tingling, and burning in the limbs. In severe cases, it can lead to paralysis, incontinence, etc.
4. Skin abnormalities <br/>If you have dry skin, choosing radiotherapy to relieve lung cancer will cause itching, pigmentation, and even peeling. If you have oily skin, the irradiated area will often have eczema, blisters, etc. after radiotherapy, and in severe cases, it may cause local skin erosion and ulceration.
5. Mucosal reactions <br/>During radiotherapy for lung cancer, some mucosal reactions may occur. When the symptoms are mild, only discomfort symptoms such as redness, swelling, congestion, decreased secretions, and dry mouth may appear on the oral mucosa. When the symptoms are more serious, there will be congestion and edema in the oropharynx, white film and ulcers in the mouth, accompanied by obvious pain symptoms, especially when eating. If the oral mucosal reaction is severe, the oral mucosa will be extremely congested and eroded, purulent secretions will appear, accompanied by severe pain, and it is often impossible to eat.