Take a look here, here is the most comprehensive information about the toxic and side effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy

Tumor treatment has always been based on surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Surgery can remove tumor tissue, and chemotherapy and radiotherapy can shrink or eliminate tumors by killing tumor cells, but they cannot eliminate tumor cells or prevent metastasis. On the contrary, the damage caused by surgery and the toxicity of radiotherapy and chemotherapy are toxic to important organs such as the bone marrow, digestive system, liver, and kidneys, reducing the body's natural anti-tumor immunity, and even directly or indirectly leading to the death of patients. This is what is commonly known as "chemotherapy and radiotherapy cannot distinguish between friend and foe", which is a double-edged sword.

What are the toxic side effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy?

The more toxic the chemotherapy drugs are and the greater the doses of chemotherapy and radiotherapy used, the more effective they are at killing tumor cells. Conversely, the greater the damage to the human body, including damage to the immune system and various important organs, manifested as:

● Decreased immunity: Both radiotherapy and chemotherapy can damage immune function, such as macrophages, natural killer cells, B cells, T cells, etc., which can all decline to varying degrees after chemotherapy. The decline in one's own anti-tumor immunity may accelerate the growth and metastasis of tumor cells.

●Digestive disorders: decreased appetite, nausea and vomiting, abdominal distension and pain, diarrhea or constipation, etc.

● Bone marrow suppression: decrease in white blood cells and platelets, and even decrease in red blood cells and hemoglobin, etc.

● Cardiotoxicity: Some chemotherapy drugs can cause cardiotoxicity, resulting in symptoms such as panic, heart palpitations, chest tightness, and shortness of breath.

●Hepatotoxicity: Almost all chemotherapy drugs can cause liver damage. In mild cases, liver function abnormalities may occur, and in severe cases, toxic hepatitis may occur.

● Renal toxicity: Large doses of some chemotherapy drugs can cause renal damage and result in low back pain, discomfort in the kidney area, etc.

●Pulmonary fibrosis: Some chemotherapy drugs can cause pulmonary fibrosis.

●Neurotoxicity: Patients may experience numbness and dullness in the extremities.

●Inflammatory reaction: fever, dizziness, headache, dry mouth, mouth ulcers, etc.

The toxic side effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy are a hurdle in cancer treatment. Some patients have to give up treatment due to excessive reactions and low immunity, which may even lead to worsening of their condition. This should be given enough attention!