Physiotherapeutic Action on Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy Adverse Effects in Cancer Patients: Systematic Literature Review

Introduction: Cancer arises from a series of genetic mutations due to exposure to carcinogens that compromise the immune defenses and, as it progresses, treatments as chemotherapy and radiotherapy are adopted. However, both treatments cause adverse effects and physiotherapy has the objective of rehabilitating functional kinetic dysfunctions resulting from these effects. Objective: To systematize the most utilized physiotherapeutic approaches to treat the main adverse effects arising from chemotherapy and radiotherapy in cancer patients. Method: A systematic review was carried out in the PubMed, LILACS, PEDro and SciELO databases from 2017 to 2022. Results: Of the 4,190 articles, 13 were selected that met the inclusion criteria and scored 6/10 on the PEDro Scale. The physiotherapeutic procedures reported in the studies were acupuncture, laser, led, therapeutic massage, auriculotherapy, cryotherapy and osteopathy, which promoted a decrease and relief of adverse effects and could act as mitigating factors in the occurrence of these symptoms. Conclusion: Adverse effects as nausea and vomiting, mucositis and fatigue secondary to chemotherapy and radiotherapy can be treated with physiotherapeutic procedures as acupuncture, laser, led, therapeutic massage, auriculotherapy, cryotherapy and osteopathy, which are safe and effective for this profile of patient, in addition to providing symptoms relief, preventing and reducing inflammatory processes, increasing appetite, improving gastrointestinal function and physical conditioning.