Radiation Therapy

Description

Radiation therapy uses waves of energy, such as light or heat, to treat cancers and other tumors and conditions. The form of radiation used in cancer therapy is a high-energy type known as ionizing radiation. Radiation therapy damages cells by destroying the genetic material that controls how cells grow and divide. While both healthy and cancerous cells are damaged by radiation therapy, the goal of radiation therapy is to destroy as few normal, healthy cells as possible. Normal cells can often repair much of the damage caused by radiation. Scientists still do not know exactly how radiation works as a treatment for cancer.

They do know, however, that it breaks up the DNA of cancer cells in a way that disrupts their growth and division. In this way, radiation can kill cancer cells, preventing or slowing the spread of the disease.
Radiotherapy may be used in the early stages of cancer or after it has started to spread.It can be used to:

  • Try to cure the cancer completely (curative radiotherapy).
  • Make other treatments more effective for example, it can be combined with Chemotherapy used before surgery (neoadjuvant radiotherapy).
  • Reduce the risk of the cancer coming back after surgery (adjuvant radiotherapy).
  •  Relieve symptoms if a cure is not possible (palliative radiotherapy).

Radiotherapy is generally considered the most effective cancer treatment after surgery, but how well it works varies from person to person.

Types of Radiation Therapy

There are two main types of radiation therapy, external beam and internal. The type of radiation therapy that you may have depends on many factors, including:

  • The size of the tumor.
  • The tumor location, including the types of tissue nearby.
  • The person’s age and overall health.
  • Whether you will have other types of cancer treatment.
  • Other factors, such as your age and other medical conditions.
  • External beam radiation therapy. This is the most common type. It involves an external machine emitting a beam of radiation that targets the treatment area.
  •  Internal radiation therapy.
  • The area receiving treatment.
  •  It can also come from an implant (a small container of radioactive material) placed (either temporarily or permanently) directly into or near the tumor (internal or interstitial radiation).
  • The person’s overall health.
  • The type and doses of radiation.
  • Brach therapy is most often used to treat cancers of the head and neck, breast, cervix, prostate and eye.
  • A systemic radiation therapy called radioactive iodine, or I-131, is most often used to treat certain types of thyroid cancer.
  • Radiotherapy implants (brachytherapy), where small pieces of radioactive metal are (usually temporarily) placed inside your body near the cancer.
  • Radiotherapy injections, capsules or drinks (radioisotope therapy), where you swallow a radioactive liquid or have it injected into your blood.
  • Short term side effects vary, depending on the part of the body receiving radiation.

Side Effects

Internal radiotherapy involves having radioactive material placed inside the body. Radiotherapy works by destroying cancer cells in the area that’s being treated. Normal cells can also be damaged by radiotherapy, which may cause side effects. You may experience no side effects, or you may experience several. Most side effects are temporary can be controlled and generally disappear over time once treatment has ended.

They can include:

  • Skin changes.
  • Fatigue.
  • Radiation not only kills or slows the growth of cancer cells, it can also affect nearby healthy cells. Damage to healthy cells can cause side effects.
  • Diarrhea.
  • Many people who get radiation therapy have fatigue. Fatigue is feeling exhausted and worn out.
  • Hair loss.
  • Nausea and vomiting.
  • Feeling sick.
  • Losing your appetite.
  • A sore mouth.
  • Heart or lung problems, if radiation affects the chest.
  • Thyroid problems, leading to hormonal changes, if radiation affects the neck area.
  • Lymphedema, which involves lymph fluid building up and causing pain.
  • Hormonal changes, including a possibility of early menopause from radiation in the pelvic area.

Internal radiotherapy involves having radioactive material placed inside the body. Radiotherapy works by destroying cancer cells in the area that’s being treated. Normal cells can also be damaged by radiotherapy, which may cause side effects.

Hope this Symptoms and cure article will be helpful to all. Do not forget to share your valuable suggestions if any.

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