Leczenie wybranych miejscowych objawów reakcji popromiennej po uzupełniającej radioterapii miejscowo zaawansowanego raka piersi – wskazówki praktyczne

Abstract

Breast cancer is the most common type of malignancy among women in the Polish population. A majorityof breast cancer patients require radiotherapy and some of them suffer from radiation-related toxicity. Thesymptoms of radiotherapy toxicity manifest as acute injuries during the initial 3 months after treatment andlate toxicities that occur after 6 months following radiotherapy. Local toxicity due to breast cancer irradiationmostly develops in the form of light skin injury, fibrosis and adiponecrosis, and sporadically as telangiectasiaor bleeding ulcer. Adiponecrosis may imitate malignancy and may necessitate further diagnostic procedures.The article presents factors which play significant roles in inducing radiation toxicity due to breast cancerradiotherapy. The paper also outlines practical tips how non-oncologists can prevent and cope with radiationinducedtoxicities occurring on skin and breast fat tissue in patients undergoing radiotherapy of that region.Diagnostic tools most useful in differentiating adiponecrosis from a malignant process are also enumerated anddiscussed in depth. The issue of the importance of a multispecialist team – one including surgeons, oncologistsand physiotherapists – in coping with radiotherapy-induced toxicities is also discussed.

Keywords

• early radiation-induced toxicity
• late radiation-induced toxicity
• breast cancer
• light skin injury
• bleeding ulcer
• telangiectasia
• adiponecrosis