Radiation Therapy Explained: Benefits, Process, and Potential Side Effects
Radiation therapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses high doses of radiation to kill cancer cells and shrink tumours. Radiation therapy works by damaging the DNA of cancer cells, which prevents them from dividing or growing. Radiation therapy can be delivered externally or internally, depending on the type and location of the cancer.
Radiotherapy is a rapidly growing technically advancing speciality.
The most advanced radiotherapy techniques include:
ETHOS, Linear Accelerators with Artificial Intelligence.
MR Linear Accelerators, where a MR imaging machine is used as part of treatment for better imaging and treatment position and precision.
Cyberknife: A miniature linear accelerator mounted on a robotic arm, used for high precision radiotherapies to like brain tumors and recurrent tumors close to critical organs. Cyberknife is used even in noncancerous brain tumors like schwannommas and trigeminal nerve roots alleviating the pain and suffering of trigeminal neuralgia.
3D conformal radiation therapy.
Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT)
Volumetric modulated radiation therapy (VMAT)
Image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT)
Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS)
Superficial x-ray radiation therapy (SXRT)
Intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT)
Benefits of Radiation Therapy
For many common cancers, such as breast cancer, bowel cancer, uterine cancer, skin cancers and prostate cancer, radiation therapy is highly effective in reducing the risk of cancer recurrence if delivered either before or after surgery. In some cancers (for example (prostate, head and neck, bladder, lung, cervix and skin cancers), radiation therapy, with or without drug therapy, can be used as the main curative treatment and in this way avoids the risks of surgery and the removal of organs.
For some cancers that are too advanced to be cured, radiation therapy is very effective for pain and other problems caused by cancer, such as bleeding from the lung or bladder. For example, pain in the bones from the spread of cancer can be improved significantly or be completely removed in around 75% of patients.
New technological advances in radiation therapy have made life better for cancer patients in recent years by making treatments even quicker, more accurate and effective.
Radiation therapy can help:
● Cure cancer by destroying all the cancer cells in a tumour.
● Control cancer by slowing down its growth or preventing it from spreading to other parts of the body.
● Relieve symptoms such as pain, bleeding, or pressure caused by a tumour.
Process of Radiation Therapy
The process of radiation therapy varies depending on the type and stage of the cancer, the goals of the treatment, and the patient’s overall health and preferences. Generally, the process involves:
Radiation therapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses high energy beams to destroy cancer cells and shrink tumours.
The American Cancer Society notes that more than half of people with cancer receive radiation therapy.
Radiation damages genetic material called DNA inside of cancer cells. If the cancer cell cannot repair the DNA, the cell will not be able to produce new cells and may die.
The radiation may injure noncancerous cells, but most are able to recover.
A person’s treatment team will carefully plan radiation therapy to minimise damage to normal tissues and organs.
● A consultation with a radiation oncologist, who is a doctor who specialises in treating cancer with radiation.
● A planning session is where a radiation therapist will keep the patient immobilised in position with thermoplastic masks, then imaging tests such as CT scans or MRI scans are used to map out the exact location and size of the tumour and the surrounding normal tissues.
● A simulation session, where a radiation therapist will position the patient on a table and mark the skin with ink or tattoos to guide the delivery of the radiation beams.
● A treatment session, where the patient will lie still on a table while a machine called a linear accelerator will deliver the radiation beams to the tumour from different angles. The treatment session may last from a few minutes to an hour, depending on the dose and type of radiation therapy. The patient may need to have several treatment sessions over days, weeks, or months.
Potential Side Effects of Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy can cause side effects that vary depending on the part of the body being treated, the dose and type of radiation therapy, and the patient’s individual response. Some common side effects include:
● Skin changes such as redness, dryness, itching, peeling, or blistering.
● Fatigue or tiredness that may interfere with daily activities.
● Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, or constipation that may affect appetite and digestion.
● Hair loss in the area being treated.
● Mouth sores or dry mouth that may make eating or swallowing difficult.
● Headaches or memory problems that may affect concentration or mood.
● Inflammation or infection of the bladder or rectum that may cause pain or bleeding during urination or bowel movements.
Most side effects are temporary and will go away after the treatment is completed. However, some side effects may be long-lasting or permanent, such as infertility, nerve damage, lymphedema (swelling caused by fluid build-up), or secondary cancers.
Radiation therapy is an effective and safe way to treat many types of cancer. However, it is not suitable for everyone and it may have some risks and limitations. Therefore, it is important to discuss with your doctor about the benefits and drawbacks of radiation therapy for your specific situation before starting the treatment.
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