Question

Maria Hernandez, a 42 -year-old female client with a history of lung cancer, is being treated with outpatient teletherapy lexternal radiation) treatmentis. After the treatment, she reports fatigue, localized skin burns, owing to which the skin is dry and red; and a dry. hacking cough that has developed gradually after several treatments. The client asks the LPN/LVN at the cancer treatment center to discuss treatments for her symptoms.

Explain the various adverse effects and complications that the client may experience as a result of receiving external radiation to the upper chest area.

Answer 1

Maria Hernandez is experiencing fatigue, skin burns, and a dry cough as adverse effects of her external radiation therapy for lung cancer. These symptoms are typical side effects of radiation, which can also include problems with blood cell production, gastrointestinal issues, and other tissue damage.

Step-by-step explanation:

Maria Hernandez, a 42-year-old female with a history of lung cancer, is experiencing adverse effects from her external radiation therapy, which is not uncommon. The localized skin burns, fatigue, and cough she's reported are related to both the radiation dosage and the sensitivity of the lung tissue to radiation. As noted in the clinical information provided, radiation doses are large but spread out to allow for the repair of normal tissue, and while they're damaging principally to cancer cells, some normal tissue damage is unavoidable. These side effects of radiation therapy can include skin dryness and redness, an itching sensation, potential numbness, and a risk of skin burns. Additionally, impacts on blood cell production can lead to immune disorders and anemia, while gastrointestinal issues and dry mouth are also common. Furthermore, symptoms like fatigue, weight loss, and cough are aligned with the signs and symptoms of effects from both the cancer and radiation treatments on the body.