Can radiation therapy interfere with conception. Negative effects of radiation therapy. Effect on the fetus: opinions of doctors

Breast cancer is no longer a death sentence. Many women who have experienced this disease have successfully overcome it. If breast cancer is detected at an early stage, it can be completely cured. However, for every woman who has undergone therapy, the question remains whether she will be able to bear and give birth to a child. Scientists and doctors are working on this problem, as more and more patients with breast cancer are still in their reproductive years.

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What is the risk of cancer treatment before pregnancy

Today there is every opportunity to successfully combat this dangerous disease. Breast cancer is the most common type of tumor among women - more than 20% in the overall structure of cancer incidence. Every year an increasing number of patients with a disappointing diagnosis have successful treatment outcomes.

When breast cancer is detected at stages 1-2, the percentage of favorable prognosis is more than 85%. Thanks to modern methods and technologies, there is every opportunity to overcome this disease.

But, unfortunately, these methods of treatment have serious side effects. Among them are not only weakening of the immune system and the body as a whole, but also Negative influence on the female reproductive system. As a result, the patient becomes infertile.

Highly toxic treatments have a negative impact in the following ways:

egg cells are inhibited;
the genetic material of germ cells is damaged;
hormonal changes occur.

All these disorders are manifested by temporary infertility, which is restored after therapy and a certain period of rehabilitation. Sometimes there is a complete loss of reproductive function. Moreover, violations of the genetic apparatus of germ cells give a certain risk of developing terrible ones. But the degree of impact of radiation and chemotherapy depends on the treatment regimen, the size of the cancerous tumor, the direction and dose of radiation.

In most cases, the only in a safe way to conceive and give birth to a healthy and full-fledged baby is the cryopreservation of eggs before the start of anticancer therapy. Even in the event of a complete loss of reproductive ability after breast cancer treatment, this will allow you to grow embryos and carry out a pregnancy.

Is it possible to conceive after an illness and after how much

Having learned about the diagnosis, a woman does not immediately think about the possibility of having children after treatment. But after passing a full examination and prescribing a therapy regimen, and even a possible favorable prognosis, the question arises about the effect of treatment on the reproductive system. The oncologist must warn about the likely consequences.

If a woman plans to have children in the future, then to preserve this possibility, you need to freeze the eggs. This method has a number of advantages.

You can take the biomaterial in the natural cycle of ovulation, without resorting to hormonal stimulation.
The eggs have not yet been damaged by chemo, hormone or radiation therapy.
Children conceived and born by the cryoprotocol do not differ in development from ordinary children.
You can start growing the embryo and subsequent transplantation into the uterus at any convenient time.
Frozen eggs can be stored in cryopreservation for as long as necessary, there are known cases of successful pregnancy after 18 years.

Egg collection for freezing

This method will help to become parents even after a terrible diagnosis and struggle with it. But so far there are no exact international guidelines and rules for how long a woman can start trying to get pregnant after being cured of breast cancer.

How long it will take the body to recover from treatment is difficult to answer. In addition, hormone therapy can be carried out for a very long time, for several years. This can seriously interfere with the bearing of a healthy child. At the moment, studies are being carried out whether it is possible to temporarily stop hormone therapy for the period of pregnancy, and then resume it.

On the other hand, the smallest particles of breast cancer could be carried by the bloodstream throughout the woman's body. These cells can “doze” all their lives and never make themselves felt again.

Watch the video about pregnancy after breast cancer (preservation of fertility, risks for mother and fetus):

But pregnancy is a special state of the body, when all processes in the body are activated. At this time, everything is completely rebuilt to ensure the life of the mother and fetus. Therefore, pregnancy can be a powerful provoking factor for the recurrence of breast cancer. The danger lies in the fact that a woman may not have time to bear a child, ruining two lives.

It is necessary to start the countdown of the time when pregnancy attempts can be made after the last therapy. In the event that there was stage 1 - 2 breast cancer, which did not give metastases, it is worth starting conception no earlier than after five years. If there was stage 3, then the period should increase to 7-10 years, and five years of stable remission should pass after therapy.

However, there are studies according to which women who gave birth after breast cancer have a 41% lower risk of dying than those who did not become a second or even first mother after such an illness.

Features of the management of women after the disease

Pregnancy after breast cancer requires careful monitoring by doctors. As mentioned above, conception naturally after a course of therapy becomes almost impossible or dangerous to the health of the unborn child.

Thus more effective method- This is after cryopreservation of eggs. This method is good because the woman's body will not be given an additional burden in the form of hormonal support. But in some cases it can happen.

Be that as it may, children born after cured breast cancer do not have any pathologies, do not lag behind in development, and do not suffer from special health problems in the future.

In the case of pregnancy after the treatment of the tumor, the woman must necessarily inform the doctors about the disease. Accordingly, with a certain frequency, biochemistry tests and examination of the mammary glands should be carried out. Otherwise, the management of the patient's condition does not differ from the usual.

For women who become pregnant after breast cancer treatment, it is important to know the following:

The effect of radiation and chemotherapy on the fetus cannot be predicted.
Components in the composition of drugs for the treatment of breast cancer do not yet have thorough results on the long-term effect on the body. Moreover, many of them can remain in a woman's blood for several years and have a negative impact on the formation and development of the fetus, as well as provoke premature birth or.
The risk of recurrence during pregnancy exists, but is not mandatory.

What to do if cancer is detected during pregnancy

There are cases when, during the bearing of a child, a woman learns about a malignant tumor of the breast. As a rule, the verdict of doctors is the same - abortion and immediate treatment. But sometimes the patient is ready to sacrifice her health for the sake of having a baby. Then she is interested in whether she can and will have time to endure it. In this case, it all depends on how aggressive the cancer is and how long the pregnancy is.

When a breast tumor is found in early dates most likely to have an abortion. Even if a slowly developing cancer, at stages 1-2, is detected, chemotherapy and radiation have an extremely negative effect on the development of the fetus. All this will lead to a miscarriage or deformities in the child. In this case, the preservation of pregnancy is impossible.

Watch the video about pregnancy with cancer:

Also, you can not leave the bearing of the fetus with the aggressive nature of breast cancer. The fact is that a woman may not survive until the moment of childbirth, and the child may die.

If the gestation period is more than 22 - 24 weeks, and the tumor itself is non-aggressive and still at the initial stage, then they usually wait until the fetus reaches the age at which it can already live outside the mother's body. Woman perform C-section, a premature baby is placed in a special box and "grown" to the required state, and the mothers begin treatment. In this case breastfeeding cannot be unambiguous.

We recommend reading the article about. From it you will learn about what problems mammoplasty solves, contraindications to it, the timing of when you can do it, the intricacies of the operation, ways to save the breast, as well as feeding the baby with a new bust.

And more about the upland uterus for conception and infertility treatment.

Pregnancy after breast cancer is entirely possible. Today, there are methods and medicines with the help of which women have a chance to become a mother even after such a terrible disease. However, there is always a risk of relapse and miscarriage. Pregnancy after breast cancer must be approached responsibly, keeping a temporary distance.

Hello Daria.

Radiation therapy and pregnancy

Radiation therapy, as well as treatment with chemical anti-cancer drugs, always has a devastating effect not only on patients, but also on physiologically healthy tissues of the body. Treatment is primarily aimed at suppressing the activity or killing cells with a high ability to divide. These cells include not only dangerous cancer cells, but also blood, mucous, gastrointestinal, and reproductive cells.

If we talk about the male body, then those methods of treatment that are used for cancer patients, due to the negative impact on reproductive cells, can cause short-term or persistent infertility. Therapy causes a deterioration in the quality of seminal fluid, therefore, immediately at the time of treatment, all patients are advised to take precautions and use contraceptives.

When planning a pregnancy after radiation therapy, precautions must be taken. If during the treatment the minimum doses of exposure were used, then cell renewal occurs already 3 months after treatment. At higher radiation doses, oncologists say that pregnancy planning can occur no earlier than 2 years after the last course of treatment. The localization of cancer cells is also important, because the effect of radiation therapy is local, i.e. not the entire body is irradiated, but only the area in which pathogenic cells are present.

Your attending physician and reproductive medicine doctor should tell you in more detail about the possibility of pregnancy planning, because after such serious therapeutic measures, pregnancy planning is best done exclusively under the supervision of experienced doctors.

Reproductive capabilities of men after radiation therapy

The prognosis, unfortunately, is disappointing: most men are diagnosed with complete sterility after radiation therapy or chemotherapy. Spermatozoa are so sensitive to these types of exposure that many simply die. That is why many men who are to be treated for cancer donate seminal fluid samples to special storage banks. If complete infertility is observed after treatment, then you can use those sperm samples that have been stored in a cryobank for several years.

There is also that category of men whose reproductive function is restored in a year or two, although initially after radiation therapy they were diagnosed with complete infertility. Spontaneous restoration of sexual activity occurs in young men (up to about 30 years), but sometimes positive results can be achieved with surgical treatment.

In answer to your question, it is impossible not to say that without the help of a reproductive medicine doctor, a good oncologist and special analyzes of your partner's seminal fluid, it is impossible to say anything for sure. Conception is possible, as mentioned earlier, and after 3 months. And sometimes even years can be wasted to achieve a positive result.

Sincerely, Natalia.

Today, there are modern methods for restoring reproductive function. To eliminate violations after radiation therapy and chemistry, special treatment is prescribed:

intake of antioxidants, which have the ability to attract toxins and remove them from the body, they are mainly found in fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as greens;
agonists that affect germ cells, inhibiting their function during treatment, so they are minimally exposed to chemicals;
phytohormones to restore hormonal levels and the ability to conceive;
herbs that restore the maturation of the egg.

If the ability to conceive is lost, IVF can be used. The older the woman, the fewer eggs in her body mature and the less likely it is to become pregnant. Therefore, before starting a course of chemotherapy, a woman is offered to preserve healthy eggs and store them until a favorable period for fertilization.

Male infertility after a course of chemotherapy does not always occur. In young men, the ability to fertilize often recovers spontaneously after a few months. If the spermatozoa are mobile, but are not able to leave the testicles, surgical treatment is performed.

Some men agree to donate sperm for storage with a view to later using it to fertilize their wife's cells. modern science has the ability to select the most mobile samples and apply them in the future.

An important aspect for the restoration of reproductive function is lifestyle, nutrition, sleep and rest, the presence of positive emotions.

Pregnancy after treatment

After most treatments for cervical cancer, a woman loses her ability to become pregnant. Reasons for this:

After radiation therapy, the ovaries cease to function normally. The woman's uterus is removed (a hysterectomy was performed).

In the early stages of cervical cancer, less traumatic surgical interventions are performed: conization and loop excision. In this case, the uterus remains intact, and the woman may become pregnant and give birth in the future. But these operations are possible at the earliest stages of cervical cancer.

There is another type of surgery performed for cervical cancer, this is amputation of the cervix (trachelectomy). In this case, only the cervix and the upper part of the vagina are removed, along with the pelvic lymph nodes. As a result of this operation, the vagina is shortened. The surgeon places a stitch around the opening of the cervix to close it.

This operation has been carried out in medical centers for about 10 years, and women who underwent this intervention were able to become pregnant and give birth to children. However, after amputation of the cervix, the risk of premature birth and miscarriage increases, since in this case there is no supporting function of the cervix.

Amputation of the cervix can only be performed in the first stage of cervical cancer. The doctor cannot give you a full guarantee of how much surgery will be performed. The tissues removed during the operation are subjected to a histological examination for the presence of cancer cells, and according to the results of the examination, the course of the operation is changed.

If a woman is diagnosed with cervical cancer in stage 1a2 or 1b, then in addition to the cervix itself, the lymph nodes in the pelvic cavity are also removed. This is done because there may be metastases (cancer cells) in the lymph nodes. If the lymph nodes are not removed in this case, the cancer may recur.

In stage 1 cervical cancer, the risk of cancer cells affecting the lymph nodes is very low. However, if cancer cells are found in at least one lymph node, a course of radiation therapy is performed after the operation (irradiation of the pelvic lymph nodes with radiation). Radiation therapy completely disrupts the function of the ovaries, this leads to infertility.

Pregnancy when cervical cancer is detected

If cervical cancer is detected in a woman during pregnancy, it all depends on the duration of pregnancy.

If your pregnancy is in the second or third trimester, your doctor will likely recommend continuing the pregnancy without treatment. Cancer treatment should begin immediately after childbirth. It all depends on how quickly the cancer develops. The method of obstetrics and simultaneous treatment in this case will be a caesarean section and removal of the uterus.

Nutrition after radiotherapy is one of the important factors restoration of health after such a serious medical intervention as radiation therapy. Radiation therapy is prescribed for various oncological diseases, including cervical cancer. Thoughtful rehabilitation after irradiation, a sparing healthy lifestyle and dietary nutrition will help patients return to normal life as soon as possible.

The consequences of radiation therapy for cervical cancer depend on the type of treatment. There are two types of radiation therapy used for cervical cancer:

Infertility is one of the consequences of radiation therapy

External radiation therapy - performed using a linear catalyst, x-rays are directed from the outside to the tumor area; internal radiation therapy - is carried out in this way: the radiation source is placed in a special applicator, which is inserted into the vagina and then through the cervix into the uterus itself. In this case, painkillers are used.

A feature of radiation therapy for cervical cancer is the development of such specific consequences as the cessation of the functioning of the ovaries. Irradiation in close proximity to the ovaries leads to the cessation of the production of the hormones estrogen and progesterone and stops ovulation. Thus, after irradiation, the patients develop Infertility.

Women usually go through menopause after 3-4 months. This feature should be taken into account when prescribing treatment. If it is important for the patient to preserve the reproductive function, it is necessary to discuss this with the attending physician: he may prescribe certain drugs that will help avoid the development of infertility.

Hormonal creams help to cope with local discomfort

Usually, to alleviate such conditions, doctors prescribe plenty of fluids, hormonal creams, and vitamins. If any of the side effects worries you especially strongly, you should tell your doctor about it in detail.

Childhood cancer risk

The cytotoxic (destructive) effect of chemotherapy drugs and surgery can cause reproductive health disorders, reducing the chances of conception and gestation of the embryo.

Ovaries. Temporary or permanent loss of ovarian function is expressed in a decrease in the number of follicles (eggs surrounded by several layers of epithelium), which mature during menstruation and become ready for fertilization. The destruction of the maturing follicles leads to amenorrhea (absence of the menstrual cycle for several months or more). The severity depends on the chemotherapy drugs used. Alkyrating drugs are especially dangerous;
uterus. There are no reliable sources about the detrimental effect on favorable conditions for fertilization and childbearing, but still, there are suggestions about partial damage in the form of impaired blood flow in the uterus and its growth dynamics. You can get pregnant, but there is a risk of miscarriage, the onset of childbirth at a period of 22–37 weeks, placenta ingrowth, and low birth weight of the baby.

The ability to become pregnant, according to the severity of the reproductive dysfunction, can be preserved through some methods:

cryopreservation - freezing of fertilized eggs, embryos, ovarian tissue, spermatozoa.

Usually, cancer center specialists do not recommend women with cancer to become pregnant after chemotherapy for some time, advising them to use contraceptives until reproductive function is fully restored. But there are still opportunities to have children, and there are three of them:

postponement of chemotherapy;
use of modern ICSI technologies for egg maturation in vitro;
removal of the ovaries and their preservation during the treatment of a woman.

Undoubtedly, chemotherapy drugs have a devastating effect on the female body, and in particular on the ability to conceive and bear children. But doctors noted that the endometrium does not suffer, which means that the uterus is able to accept a fertilized egg. This increases the chance of bearing a healthy baby.

What effect does chemotherapy have on a woman's organs:

The function of the ovaries is reduced or lost altogether, this is expressed in a decrease in the number of follicles that mature into an egg for further fertilization. If the follicles are destroyed, amenorrhea occurs and menstruation is absent. This can last for several months, and then the cycle is restored, and the woman is again able to become pregnant. The prognosis depends on the drugs that were used to treat oncology.
The uterus practically does not suffer from chemotherapy, but blood supply and the ability to grow can be disturbed in it, which cannot but affect the course of pregnancy. A woman does not become infertile, but there is a risk of being unable to bear a child. Pregnancy after chemotherapy is fraught with miscarriage or premature birth. A negative consequence may be an ingrown placenta or too little weight of the child.

If the ability to become pregnant is lost, a woman can use other methods of conceiving a child.

The drugs used to treat oncology have a different destructive effect on a woman's body. It depends on the following factors:

woman's age;
the type of medication and the degree of its toxicity;
the duration of the course of chemotherapy.

The main side effect after treatment is amenorrhea, in younger girls the menstrual cycle may return, and in older women, as a rule, menopause occurs.

The effect of chemotherapy on a woman's ability to conceive is not fully understood, science cannot unequivocally state whether pregnancy will occur or not. Therefore, every woman of childbearing age undergoing treatment should take care of contraception. Pregnancy during the course of chemotherapy is strongly discouraged. This is due to the following negative consequences:

pathological development of the fetus or its death due to the toxic effects of heavy chemicals;
when pregnancy occurs, the female body begins to rebuild and prepare for bearing a child, the hormonal background changes, which can cause a sharp increase in a malignant neoplasm and the appearance of metastases.

Therefore, at the time of treatment, the doctor selects the method of contraception individually, but if pregnancy occurs, it must be interrupted.

After undergoing a course of chemotherapy, not every woman dares to give birth, especially since the risk of becoming infertile is very high. But still, many people wonder if pregnancy is possible after chemotherapy. In many women, reproductive function is restored over time, the period depends on many factors:

localization and severity of oncology;
types of drugs used for treatment;
duration of treatment;
the state of the immune system and the body's ability to recover;
woman's age.

Based on averages, young and strong women recover in 3-5 years. A woman under 30 is quite capable of conceiving a child and carrying it out without resorting to auxiliary methods. Those who are over 30 years old may not recover, but they are quite capable of giving birth to a baby using artificial insemination.

Treatment of oncology in men also includes courses of chemotherapy, which negatively affects the reproductive capabilities of the body, which is expressed in the following changes:

The mobility and quantity of spermatozoa are significantly worsened, which significantly reduces the ability to fertilize the female egg. Thus, a man can become infertile.
Drugs used for treatment have a toxic effect on germ cells, causing genetic changes in them. A child at conception can adopt these cells, the birth of such children can end in deformity. The greatest negative impact on the reproductive function of men is exerted by such medicines as: Cisplatin, Cyclophosphamide.
Irradiation of cancer cells can also lead to male infertility, this is due to the fact that radiation therapy has a detrimental effect on sperm motility. In young men, recovery occurs after 1.5 - 2 years. If the exposure was total, fertility may not be restored.

Oncology of the reproductive organs has a particularly negative effect on the ability of a man to fertilize female cells.

Children born to cancer-prone parents are no more at risk of developing cancer than those born to healthy parents. A child can only genetically inherit a predisposition to oncology.

No cases of development of cancerous tumors in children born from cured parents have been reported. But to conceive a healthy child, it is better to plan pregnancy 2-3 years after a course of chemotherapy, radiotherapy or radiation. These recommendations are related to the need to restore the body of a woman and a man after taking highly toxic drugs.

Side effects after chemotherapy

Chemotherapeutic drugs are administered intravenously and have a detrimental effect not only on cancer cells, but also on healthy ones. A patient who is undergoing a course of chemotherapy feels bad, but then improvement occurs, pathological cells are destroyed and the body begins to gradually recover.

Normal cells are affected to a lesser extent, this is due to the fact that pathological cells divide faster, and drugs act mainly on them. In addition, healthy cells have the ability to recover, despite the side effects suffered:

baldness, most often complete;
development of osteoporosis;
anemia;
the most severe complication is leukemia;
problems with the heart and blood vessels;
nausea accompanied by vomiting;
problems with the stomach and intestines can cause a complete loss of appetite;
stool disorders;
psychoemotional disorders;
puffiness;
complete loss or temporary decrease in reproductive function;
inflammation of the eyes, accompanied by lacrimation.

The severity of side effects after treatment with chemotherapy drugs depends on the form of oncology, the age and body of the patient, as well as the composition of the drugs. Chemotherapy does not always have a negative impact on a man's fertility and a woman's ability to bear children.

Men can be subject to psychosomatics, this often causes temporary impotence, loss of interest in intimacy. At such moments, it is very important to support a man morally; over time, sexual function can fully recover. After a course of treatment for two years, a man must use barrier means of protection (condoms) in order to avoid conception and the birth of an underdeveloped child. Physical and mental abnormalities may not reveal themselves immediately, but manifest themselves in a child after a few years.

When pregnancy occurs immediately after chemotherapy, a woman is usually offered to have an abortion, the risk of developing fetal pathologies and premature birth is too high.

During radiotherapy, a number of complications can develop, which may be associated with the effect of ionizing radiation on the tumor itself or on healthy tissues of the body.

Hair loss

in the scalp is seen in most patients who have received radiation treatment for tumors in the head or neck. The cause of hair loss is damage to the cells of the hair follicle. Under normal conditions, it is the division (

) of these cells and determines the growth of the hair in length.

When exposed to radiotherapy, cell division of the hair follicle slows down, as a result of which the hair stops growing, its root weakens and it falls out.

It should be noted that when other parts of the body are irradiated (for example, legs, chest, back, and so on), the hair of that part of the skin, through which a large dose of radiation is administered, may fall out. After the end of radiation therapy, hair growth resumes on average after a few weeks or months (if no irreversible damage to the hair follicles has occurred during the treatment).

When exposed to high doses of radiation, certain changes occur in the skin, which, by their external signs, resemble a clinic.

In fact, no thermal tissue damage (

) is not observed in this case. The mechanism of development of burns after radiotherapy is as follows. When the skin is irradiated, small blood vessels are damaged, as a result of which microcirculation of blood and lymph in the skin is disturbed. In this case, oxygen delivery to the tissues decreases, which leads to the death of some cells and their replacement with scar tissue. This, in turn, further disrupts the process of oxygen delivery, thereby supporting the development of the pathological process.

Skin burns may appear:

Erythema. This is the least dangerous manifestation of radiation damage to the skin, in which there is an expansion of superficial blood vessels and redness of the affected area.
Dry radiation dermatitis. In this case, an inflammatory process develops in the affected skin. At the same time, a lot of biologically active substances enter the tissues from the dilated blood vessels, which act on special nerve receptors, causing a sensation of itching ( burning, irritation). Scales may form on the surface of the skin.
Wet radiation dermatitis. With this form of the disease, the skin swells and may become covered with small bubbles filled with a clear or cloudy liquid. After opening the vesicles, small ulcerations are formed that do not heal for a long time.
Radiation ulcer. It is characterized by necrosis ( death) of part of the skin and deeper tissues. The skin in the area of the ulcer is extremely painful, and the ulcer itself does not heal for a long time, which is due to a violation of microcirculation in it.
Radiation skin cancer. The most severe complication after radiation burn. The formation of cancer is promoted by cellular mutations resulting from radiation exposure, as well as prolonged hypoxia ( lack of oxygen), which develops against the background of microcirculation disorders.
Skin atrophy. It is characterized by thinning and dryness of the skin, hair loss, impaired sweating and other changes in the affected area of the skin. The protective properties of atrophied skin are sharply reduced, as a result of which the risk of developing infections increases.

Skin itching

As mentioned earlier, exposure to radiation therapy leads to disruption of blood microcirculation in the skin area. In this case, the blood vessels expand, and the permeability of the vascular wall increases significantly. As a result of these phenomena, the liquid part of the blood passes from the bloodstream into the surrounding tissues, as well as many biologically active substances, including histamine and

These substances irritate specific nerve endings located in the skin, resulting in a sensation of itching or burning.

To eliminate itching, antihistamines can be used, which block the effects of histamine at the tissue level.

emergence

can be due to the effect of radiation on the tissues of the human body, especially when irradiating tumors of the abdomen. The fact is that during irradiation, damage to the lymphatic vessels can be observed, through which, under normal conditions, the lymph flows from the tissues and flows into the bloodstream. Violation of the outflow of lymph can lead to the accumulation of fluid in the tissues of the legs, which will be the direct cause of the development of edema.

Swelling of the skin during radiotherapy can also be caused by exposure to ionizing radiation. In this case, there is an expansion of the blood vessels of the skin and sweating of the liquid part of the blood into the surrounding tissue, as well as a violation of the outflow of lymph from the irradiated tissue, as a result of which edema develops.

At the same time, it is worth noting that the occurrence of edema may not be associated with the effect of radiotherapy. So, for example, with advanced cases of cancer, metastases (distant tumor foci) can occur in various organs and tissues. These metastases (or the tumor itself) can compress the blood and lymphatic vessels, thereby disrupting the outflow of blood and lymph from the tissues and causing the development of edema.

Pain during radiation therapy can occur in the case of radiation damage to the skin. At the same time, in the area of the affected areas, there is a violation of blood microcirculation, which leads to oxygen starvation of cells and damage to nerve tissues. All this is accompanied by the appearance of a pronounced pain syndrome, which patients describe as "burning", "unbearable" pain. This pain syndrome cannot be eliminated with the help of conventional

drugs, in connection with which patients are prescribed other medical procedures (

). Their goal is to reduce swelling of the affected tissues, as well as restore the patency of blood vessels and normalize microcirculation in the skin. This will improve the delivery of oxygen to the tissues, which will reduce the severity or completely eliminate pain.

Cause of gastrointestinal dysfunction

) the radiation dose may be too high (

). In this case, there is a lesion of the mucous membrane

As well as a violation of the nervous regulation of intestinal peristalsis (

). In more severe cases, inflammatory processes may develop in the gastrointestinal tract (

) or even form

The process of promoting intestinal contents and digestion of food will be disrupted, which can cause the development of various clinical manifestations.

Damage to the gastrointestinal tract during radiation therapy can manifest itself:

Nausea and vomiting- associated with delayed gastric emptying due to impaired gastrointestinal motility.
Diarrhea (diarrhea)- occurs due to inadequate digestion of food in the stomach and intestines.
Constipation - can occur with severe damage to the mucous membrane of the large intestine.
Tenesmus - frequent, painful urge to defecate, during which nothing is excreted from the intestines ( or passing a small amount of mucus without stool).
The appearance of blood in the stool- This symptom may be associated with damage to the blood vessels of the inflamed mucous membranes.
Abdominal pain - occurs due to inflammation of the mucous membrane of the stomach or intestines.

Cystitis

is an inflammatory lesion of the mucous membrane

The cause of the disease may be radiation therapy performed to treat a tumor of the bladder itself or other organs of the small pelvis. At the initial stage of development of radiation cystitis, the mucous membrane becomes inflamed and swells, but in the future (

) it atrophies, that is, it becomes thinner, wrinkled. At the same time, its protective properties are violated, which contributes to the development of infectious complications.

Clinically, radiation cystitis can be manifested by frequent urge to urinate (during which a small amount of urine is excreted), the appearance of a small amount of blood in the urine, a periodic increase in body temperature, and so on. In severe cases, ulceration or necrosis of the mucosa may occur, against which a new cancerous tumor may develop.

Why is radiation therapy prescribed?

Radiation therapy is used in the treatment of cancer different type. Radiation therapy is prescribed due to the fact that cancer cells have an increased sensitivity to ionizing radiation and die as a result of radiation. Tumor cells differ from healthy cells in their intensive division, which makes them vulnerable to radiation.

However, radiation therapy does not pass without a trace for the entire human body. After it, as after chemotherapy, the patient develops a large number of side effects that significantly affect his well-being and quality of life. Severe weakness, dizziness, nausea, alopecia (hair loss), weight loss, digestive and cardiovascular systems- this is not a complete list of the unpleasant consequences of exposure to ionizing radiation on the body.

After irradiation, the patient has to recover for a long time in order to begin to feel good and return to normal life. Not the last role in the restoration of the vital functions of the body is played by proper nutrition.

Is it possible to get pregnant after radiation therapy of the cervix

Hair loss

After the patient has completed the course of radiation, the following recommendations should be followed:

Freshly squeezed juices are very healthy

It is necessary to drink large volumes of liquid - about two liters per day. You can drink both plain non-carbonated water and other drinks - green tea, kissels, compotes, juices. However, drinks should not be too sour and sweet. Freshly squeezed juices are very useful; it is highly desirable to give up alcoholic beverages and smoking;

all legumes, cabbage, whole grains, mushrooms, many raw vegetables; it is recommended to eat food in small portions in 5-6 doses; you can eat rice, apples, especially baked ones, blackcurrants, bananas, nuts. Vegetables are also recommended: pumpkin, carrots, beets, zucchini; vegetarian soups are allowed, cream soups can be cooked; It is recommended to eat small meals throughout the day

It is recommended to eat greens: dill, parsley, celery; lean boiled meat and fish should be gradually introduced into the diet, you can also steam them. Meat is desirable to take white: chicken or rabbit meat. after irradiation, decoctions of various herbs can be very useful: chamomile, nettle, rhodiola, eleutherococcus.

Often after the use of such therapy, patients experience a lack of appetite or poor appetite. In such cases, honey, nuts, eggs, chocolate should be consumed, but it is advisable to consult your doctor before taking these products, as some of them can provoke the development of allergic reactions.

To increase appetite, it is also advised to drink decoctions of wormwood, oregano, add aromatic spices in small quantities to food: mint, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, lemon zest.

Irradiation has a very serious effect on the human body, in addition to cancer cells, many other tissues and functions suffer, so rehabilitation after radiation therapy is extremely important. Proper nutrition (described above) is one of the most important components of rehabilitation.

Therapeutic exercises speed up recovery

No less important for a person is peace and the opportunity to have a lot of rest. You should stay as much as possible in a calm, quiet environment, avoid noisy places. It is very important to be on fresh air: often ventilate the premises, and over time - take leisurely walks, preferably in a garden or park. At the same time, it is necessary to ensure that the patient is warm or dressed warmly in order to avoid hypothermia of a weakened body.

In the future, it is desirable to start doing therapeutic exercises, which will lead to a general strengthening of the body.

After irradiation, it is important to take vitamin complexes and immunomodulating agents in order to restore the immune system, increase the body's resistance and improve well-being.

It should be remembered that although radiation therapy has a strong negative effect on the human body, a quick recovery after it is quite possible with a sparing diet and adherence to healthy lifestyle life. New pleasant impressions and good mood also contribute to the improvement of well-being and complete recovery.

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Breast cancer during pregnancy

The third stage of breast cancer obliges treatment with additional methods - chemotherapy or radiation therapy, hormone therapy, so doctors recommend postponing pregnancy for 5 years. Such a long pause is explained by the possible recurrence of a cancerous tumor and major complications during pregnancy. If the size of the tumor was small and the spread of metastases was of an initial nature, then the woman may be allowed to have children earlier than after 5 years.

Breast cancer and pregnancy can co-exist, and tumor treatment can have two options:

Conducting chemotherapy. A course of anticancer drugs is contraindicated in the 1st and 2nd trimesters of pregnancy. It is allowed in the 3rd trimester only with the agreement of the patient and her relatives, since complications of one degree or another are inevitable;
Artificial termination of pregnancy or early delivery, and then treatment.

A man who has undergone a course of chemotherapy suffers from his loss of fertility no less than a woman, since treatment can result not only in short-term infertility, but also complete infertility.

With chemotherapy, the quality of sperm deteriorates greatly due to the destruction of spermatogonia, which are responsible for the functionality and development of spermatozoa.

A man who is about to undergo chemotherapy is offered an alternative solution to the problem - storage (freezing) of spermatozoa or spermatogonia. The latter option is more acceptable to young people who have not reached puberty, but this method has not yet been fully explored. There is a risk of spermatogonia mutation or recurrence of cancer cells after re-implantation into the body.

If you wish not to lose the function of childbearing, both the man and the woman are advised to notify the attending physician about this, who prescribes chemotherapy. Before anticancer drugs have a negative impact on the entire body, and exactly on the reproductive system, it will be possible to save healthy eggs, sperm for IVF (in vitro fertilization) or surrogate motherhood.

To rid the fetus of the negative effects of chemotherapy drugs, you should use condoms and only the attending physician prescribes the expiration date for their use.

Unfortunately, today the number of oncological diseases is steadily growing. There is nothing surprising in the fact that some women are going to give birth after suffering from cancer (we wrote about cancer during pregnancy), because the average age of first birth is constantly increasing. Today, data suggests that women began to give birth to their first children at an average of 30 years.

Indeed, before this age, women often build a career, arrange the material aspects of their lives, and only after achieving their goals are they preparing to become mothers. At the same time, the age of oncological diseases is decreasing all the time, while their frequency, on the contrary, is increasing. Thus, the chances of having cancer before the birth of the first child become increasingly higher.

What are the prospects for pregnancy after cancer?

Of course, in the treatment of oncological diseases, such drugs and methods are used that leave a negative mark (see) on a woman's health status. These factors also affect the reproductive functions of a person. In addition, depending on how long ago the treatment was carried out, there may be toxic effects that can affect the development of the fetus. A number of cancer therapy methods involve a ban on pregnancy for a certain period (for example, after radioiodine therapy, it is not recommended to become pregnant for a year).

Statistics say that more than 80% of women who become pregnant after suffering from cancer have artificially terminated the pregnancy. Indeed, risking the health of an unborn baby is very scary. At the same time, in cases where women carried a pregnancy, the birth of healthy babies was not uncommon. Moreover, healthy children were born even when pregnancy was carried out (the first such case was recorded in 1946, the doctors did not know about the patient's pregnancy, and attributed the absence of menstruation to hormonal disruptions, continuing treatment).

In many cases, recommendations after cancer therapy say that it is necessary to endure a period of at least two years before planning a pregnancy. Statistics have data on compliance with and violation of this recommended period.

So, among 62 women who became pregnant after cancer therapy and did not terminate the pregnancy, 27 gave birth to perfectly healthy children, while the pregnancy occurred before the two years previously recommended for a break. Those women who became pregnant almost at the end of such a period bore and gave birth to children much easier than those who became pregnant for six months after the course of therapy. Thus, it is quite possible to become pregnant before the passage of two years, however, for greater certainty, it is better to withstand this period.

There is an opinion that getting pregnant after an oncology disease is categorically contraindicated. It is believed that those medicinal substances, as well as techniques such as radiation therapy, etc. make genetic changes, so even after many years, pathologies can affect the fetus.

In fact, such a statement is erroneous, which is confirmed by statistics. In addition, in each case, indications and contraindications are purely individual, since patients receive different treatment, cancer is also at different stages and responds to therapy differently.

Today, scientists around the world are working in a fundamentally new direction, which makes it possible to preserve the genital organs as much as possible during the treatment of oncological diseases. Innovative medications are being developed, organ-preserving operations are being carried out, and new methods of radiation therapy are being introduced. In addition, there is such a technique as the early selection of intact genetic material - the essence of the technique lies in the fact that even before the start of cancer treatment, the patient's genetic material is selected, after which it is stored for the entire period of treatment and after it. Thus, with the help of artificial insemination, it is possible to introduce an initially intact fertilized egg into the uterus.

Pregnancy management after cancer

Whatever period after cancer has passed, a woman who has had an oncological disease and then becomes pregnant needs careful and qualified medical supervision. First of all, it is necessary to undergo all examinations in a timely manner, carefully monitor the general state of health, and control the changes taking place in the body.

Naturally, the control of pregnancy in a woman who has had cancer is much more thorough than in the standard case. You should be prepared for this and not worry about it. Generally it is important to have positive attitude, to understand that the changes in the body that occur in connection with pregnancy are the norm, but it should be controlled.

Where can I get diagnosed and treated for cancer?

The pages of our site provide information about the set medical institutions from European and other countries where it is possible to diagnose and treat various forms of cancer. For example, these may be centers and clinics such as:

The Israeli hospital "Helen Schneider" is widely known as a clinical base for the practical application of the latest advances in medicine. In its work, the hospital uses only modern equipment, as well as the most modern technologies and effective cancer-fighting drugs.

Now medicine can prevent such things as infertility. One of the main side effects of antitumor therapy is its negative impact on the male reproductive system. Oncologists advise saving sperm before starting treatment to protect yourself from possible infertility as a result of toxic treatment. Advances in cancer therapy give patients with a similar diagnosis a chance for a new life.

Cancer has ceased to be a terrible diagnosis. Modern methods anticancer treatment (chemotherapy and radiation therapy) allow the patient to cope with the disease and return to a full life after treatment.

For men, the most common tumors are:

trachea, bronchi, lung - 18.4%
prostate - 12.9%
skin - 11.4%
stomach - 8.6%
colon - 5.9%
lymphatic and circulatory tissue - 4.8%

Favorable treatment prognosis*

* with early detection of the disease

Negative effects of cancer treatment

The survival rate for malignant neoplasms has increased significantly in recent years. In Russia, it grows by 4.4% annually, according to WHO. But, aggressive cancer treatment has side effects. Main effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy:

hair loss
anemia
change in appetite
temporary or permanent infertility
nausea and vomiting
skin and nail changes
weakness
bleeding disorder
infectious complications

Unfortunately, the average age of cancer patients in Russia is decreasing every year. Today, among cancer patients, a significant proportion are men and women of reproductive age: 20-40 years. Many of them are concerned about the question: What are the consequences of a malignant disease and how does chemotherapy treatment affect the ability to have children in the future? Not many people think about these consequences before starting anticancer treatment. It is important to remember that among the main effects of chemotherapy- its negative impact on the reproductive system of men:

Sperm suppression

Damage to the genetic apparatus of germ cells

Sperm suppression.

Under the influence of chemotherapy, there is a significant reduction in spermatozoa, as well as a deterioration in their mobility. Thus, the quality of the reproductive material is reduced, which results in infertility. Men who, after treatment, plan to become a father, may experience great difficulty in conceiving.

Damage to the genetic apparatus.

It is necessary to discuss with the doctor in advance the possibility of infertility after chemotherapy. It has been proven that some toxic drugs cause genetic changes in germ cells. In the future, these disorders can be transmitted to the child at conception. Particularly negative for a man's ability to have children in the future drugs used for chemotherapy, such as cyclophosphamide and cisplatin, are affected.

Radiation therapy can subsequently lead to infertility. Irradiation dramatically reduces the level of sperm motility. At a dose of not more than 0.7 g, complete restoration of spermatogenesis occurs after 1.5-2 years. With total irradiation of the whole organism, fertility is not restored.

Particular attention to the negative effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy in the treatment of oncology should be paid to men with cancer of the reproductive organs: testicular seminoma, tumors of the prostate, penis. And if a man is still planning to become a father, it is important to think about the consequences of anticancer therapy in advance.

High toxicity of radiation and chemotherapy results*:

*On the example of Hodgkin's lymphoma

How to avoid infertility after cancer treatment

In recent decades, medicine has stepped forward - modern technologies make it possible to prevent such consequences of chemotherapy. Sperm cryopreservation is now an accepted method of preserving fertility in men with malignant neoplasms, allowing them to have children in the future.

An important condition for the success of cryopreservation is the freezing of sperm before treatment, since cell quality and DNA integrity can be impaired even after a single course of antitumor therapy. But doctors recommend resorting to cryopreservation even after the start of radiation or chemotherapy. Since with each subsequent course of treatment the quality of sperm will deteriorate, to avoid irreversible consequences it is extremely important to freeze it as early as possible.

You can use your frozen sperm at any time. There is no need to wait several years until spermatogenesis is fully restored. Conceive a child can be done using the method IVF or insemination:

In in vitro fertilization (IVF), the fusion of the egg and sperm occurs in the laboratory "in vitro". As a result, an embryo is formed, which after 2-6 days is implanted in the woman's uterus, where the fetus attaches and begins to develop. Thus, pregnancy occurs. IVF conception is a modern, proven method of assisted reproductive technologies. Such a pregnancy is no different from a natural one.
Artificial insemination is a more economical, but also less effective way of conception. During insemination, sperm is introduced artificially into the uterine cavity of a woman.

Sperm freezing is a reliable way to preserve male fertility and has a number of advantages:

Frozen sperm can be used at any time and delivered to any clinic at the right time
Babies born with stored sperm are no different from those conceived naturally
The shelf life of frozen sperm is unlimited. There are known cases of the birth of children with the help of sperm stored for more than 20 years.
The quality of reproductive cells does not change during the entire storage period.