RADIOTHERAPY: A STUDY ON PSYCHOSOCIAL EFFECTS IN CHILDREN AFTER RADIOTHERAPY TREATMENT IN BASIC HEALTH UNITS IN BRAZIL

Abstract

The present study discusses the psychosocial effects that can be caused in children after the end of radiotherapy treatments, focusing on studies in basic health units in Brazil. Radiotherapy is a very effective treatment for oncological pathologies, as its purpose is to reduce or kill tumor cells, but, on the other hand, it offers side effects that impede the healthy growth of the child and causes psychological, cardiovascular, metabolic complications, physical deficits and cognitive disorders, and even other possible neoplasms. In this context, the following question was raised: why does radiotherapy interfere so much in the psychosocial sphere in children? In view of the above, the general objective was to analyze the impacts of radiotherapy on children and its interference in the psychosocial sphere. Therefore, the specific objectives aimed to: Contextualize radiotherapy treatment in children in basic health units in Brazil; Understand the psychosocial effects of radiotherapy in children; Present alternatives that can minimize the psychosocial effects of radiotherapy treatment in children. The methodology used to carry out this study was bibliographic and documentary research extracted from books and articles published in the national territory. Finally, the study demonstrated the need for radiotherapy in oncology treatments and that its negative effects can be minimized, and these forms of minimization need to be introduced into the single health system.