Professor Peng Shaohua, the vice president of Hainan Cancer Hospital and director of the Department of Radiation Oncology, stated that in the comprehensive treatment of tumors, radiotherapy not only serves as a palliative treatment for advanced tumors to alleviate symptoms and improve quality of life, but also plays a crucial role in preventing tumor recurrence after surgery.
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Postoperative radiotherapy: Eliminating the hidden defense line of residual cancer cells
Professor Peng Shaohua introduced that radiotherapy, also known as radiation therapy, is a local treatment method that uses high-energy rays to destroy the DNA of cancer cells and prevent their growth and division. It is like an "invisible scalpel" that can precisely target tumor tissues in specific areas. Postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy is the use of radiotherapy after tumor surgery to further eliminate possible residual cancer cells and reduce the risk of tumor recurrence and metastasis.
Why is radiotherapy necessary after tumor resection? Professor Peng Shaohua explains that although surgery can remove visible tumor lesions, some tiny cancer cells that are hard to detect with the naked eye may lurk around the surgical site or in lymph nodes. These "escaped fish" are the hidden dangers for tumor recurrence in the future. Radiotherapy, with its precise positioning ability, can irradiate the surgical area and high-risk areas where residual cancer cells may exist, eliminating these potential cancer cells in the bud.
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Postoperative radiotherapy for these cancers is a key measure to prevent recurrence.
In the treatment of various cancers, postoperative radiotherapy plays an irreplaceable role. Take breast cancer as an example. For patients with large tumors and axillary lymph node metastasis, postoperative radiotherapy can significantly reduce the local recurrence rate and improve the survival rate of patients.
For instance, in the case of lung cancer, for some patients, after the primary tumor is surgically removed, the cancer may have already invaded the pleura, chest wall, or mediastinal lymph nodes. Postoperative radiotherapy can effectively eliminate residual cancer cells in these areas and reduce the possibility of recurrence. For rectal cancer patients, especially when the tumor has penetrated the intestinal wall and lymph nodes have been metastasized, postoperative radiotherapy can lower the risk of pelvic recurrence, improve the patients quality of life and prognosis.
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Postoperative radiotherapy precautions
However, not all patients with tumors need radiotherapy after surgery. The formulation of radiotherapy plans requires a comprehensive consideration of multiple factors.
Professor Peng Shaohua reminds that doctors will determine whether a patient needs postoperative radiotherapy based on the type, stage, pathological features of the tumor, the thoroughness of surgical resection, and the patients physical condition. For instance, patients with early-stage tumors who have undergone thorough surgical resection and have no high-risk factors for recurrence may not need postoperative radiotherapy; however, for patients with middle to advanced-stage tumors and numerous high-risk factors for recurrence, postoperative radiotherapy is highly necessary.
When patients and their families are facing postoperative radiotherapy, there are also some issues that need attention. First of all, it is necessary to have a correct understanding of the importance of postoperative radiotherapy and not to refuse treatment due to concerns about the side effects of radiotherapy. Modern radiotherapy techniques are already very precise, such as three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy and intensity-modulated radiotherapy, which can provide sufficient doses of radiation to the tumor area while minimizing damage to surrounding normal tissues and reducing the risk of side effects. Secondly, during the radiotherapy process, it is essential to strictly follow the doctors instructions, receive treatment on time, and not interrupt it arbitrarily. At the same time, it is necessary to pay attention to the nursing work during radiotherapy, keep the irradiated area skin clean and dry, avoid friction and irritation, have a reasonable diet, ensure adequate nutrition and rest, and improve the bodys tolerance.
Department of Radiation Oncology, Hainan Cancer Hospital
After nearly a decade of development, the Department of Radiation Oncology at Hainan Cancer Hospital has become a well-known modern oncology treatment specialty in Hainan Province. It integrates medical treatment, teaching and scientific research, and is based on standardized treatment and evidence-based medicine to create a "provincial authority and nationally renowned" precise radiotherapy service.
The department has 4 wards and is equipped with international advanced devices such as Edge, TrueBeam, Clinac-23EX, Varian high-dose rate brachytherapy machine, Intrabeam intraoperative radiotherapy machine, and large-aperture CT simulation positioning machine. It offers advanced radiotherapy techniques including conventional radiotherapy, 3DCRT, IMRT, VMAT, IGRT, IORT, X-knife, as well as SRS and SBRT. The departments treatment scope covers head and neck, chest, breast, abdominal and pelvic, urogenital, bone and soft tissue, and gynecological tumors. It is particularly leading in the province in the field of three-dimensional brachytherapy for cervical cancer, providing individualized and precise treatment for patients.
Expert Introduction
Peng Shaohua, Chief Physician
Vice President and Chief of the Department of Radiation Oncology
Professor of Hainan Medical University
Medical expertise
Proficient in radiotherapy for malignant tumors and combined radiochemotherapy.
Outpatient visit time
Friday morning
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