Radiotherapy for thymoma will affect the internal organs, such as digestive tract damage, radiation pneumonia, etc.
1. Digestive tract injury: as radiation will damage healthy cells while irradiating tumor cells, radiation will stimulate gastrointestinal mucosa during radiotherapy for thymoma, which may cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and other adverse reactions. Oral metoclopramide, domperidone tablets and other medicines can be taken for symptomatic antiemetic treatment, and dietary adjustments can also be made to relieve gastrointestinal discomfort.
2. Radiation pneumonitis: the radiotherapy site of thymoma mainly focuses on thymus and upper chest, so the radiation will also directly contact with lung tissues. Under the stimulation of radiation, it may cause various lung diseases such as radiation pneumonitis. Prednisone and other adrenocorticotropic hormone drugs can be used, together with anti-infective drugs such as roxithromycin and phlegm and cough drugs to actively treat.
During radiotherapy, it is necessary to do a good job of immune system protection and nutritional supplementation, and at the same time, according to the body’s tolerance and tumor progression to choose the appropriate dose of treatment. If discomfort occurs in the course of radiotherapy, the patient should actively cooperate with the doctor to carry out symptomatic treatment, and all drugs should be applied under the guidance of the doctor.