Some people believe that the side effects of concurrent radiotherapy can lower immunity and cause tumors to be more likely to recur. This view is not scientific.
First of all, suffering from a tumor is itself a sign of a decline in the body’s immune function.
The first thing that happened was that the immune system was suppressed for various reasons, and it was only because the immune system was “asleep” that some of the “restless” abnormal proliferating cells in the body went unchecked and grew like crazy, slowly becoming tumors.
Secondly, the goal of various anti-tumor treatments is to remove, kill, and suppress tumor cells, which inevitably results in adverse effects (or “side effects” as they are often called). The first is that the tumor cells are not only removed, but also killed and suppressed.
So, the side effects of concurrent radiotherapy will not cause the tumor to be more likely to recur. Your doctor will evaluate your health and disease, weigh the pros and cons, and choose the treatment plan that is best for you.
Co-written by Dr. You Jing, Peking University Cancer Hospital