Radiation therapy for Cancer Treatment

All you need to know about Radiation Therapy-Types  and Side effects

Radiation therapy also known as radiotherapy is a type of therapy used to kill the cancer cell using high-intensity beams to kill cancer cells. Radiation therapy mainly uses X-rays or any high-energy radiation type known as ionization radiation.

For this therapy powerful waves of energy are used to kill the cancer cells and to prevent the growth of cancer cells also, resulting in shrinking of the tumor to enable surgery.

Radiation therapy kills the cancer cells and destroys the mutated DNA so that there are no tumour cells left to replicate abnormally. This therapy not only destroys the cancer cells but also destroy the neighboring normal cells also, with great care during the procedure ensures minimal loss of normal cells.

Indications for radiation therapy

Radiation therapy is useful for the following conditions:

  • For the treatment of cancer.
  • Post-surgery to prevent the growth of the leftover cancer cells.
  • Along with chemotherapy to kill cancer cells.
  • In the advanced stage to relief from symptoms caused due to cancer.

Side effects of radiotherapy

  • Hair loss
  • Sore throat
  • Irritation of skin
  • Fatigue
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhoea
  • Frequent urination
  • Burning of the urinary bladder.
  • Shortness of breath
  • Difficulty in swallowing
  • Sexual dysfunction

Types of radiation therapy :

Radiation therapy is mainly of two types:

  • External beam radiation therapy: This type of radiation therapy is good for local treatment. For example, in the case of lung cancer, only the chest has to be exposed to the radiation and not the body.
  • Internal radiation therapy: In this type of radiation therapy the source of radiation can either be solid or liquid which is administered in the body. The solid source of radiation or brachytherapy is administered in the form of capsule, ribbons or seeds. Brachytherapy is useful in treating only a specific part of the body. This type of radiation therapy is useful in cases of head, neck, breast, prostate, cervix and eye cancer.

The liquid source of radiation or systemic therapy travels throughout the body through blood. The systemic therapy is introduced in the body either by swallowing or injected through veins. This type of radiation therapy is very useful in a special type of thyroid cancer.

What to expect before the procedure?

During the procedure, the patient has to lie down still in one position. Cushions and restraints are used to ensure that the correct position. The radiation therapist marks the area that needs radiation. The radiologist uses a CT scan to make sure the area that needs to undergo radiation therapy.

The radiologist then decides what type of radiation therapy is needed to control and prevent the growth of cancer.

(Know more about Best Oncologists/Oncosurgeons in India.)

Post-radiation care

Post-radiation therapy the patient usually has nausea and vomiting tendency but the patients have to eat food. High calories and protein-rich food have to be eaten by the patient because a lot of energy is used to heal after radiation therapy.

 

Cancer Hospitals and Institutes in India

2 thoughts on “Radiation therapy for Cancer Treatment”

  1. Jenam karanpuria

    hello, thank you for a post on radiation therapy. I have heard that radiation therapy is a temporary solution and there are chances of cancer recurrence in the future. Is it right?

    1. Hey Jenam,
      Cancers do relapse sometimes after radiotherapy.
      This happens especially in cases where the malignant cells are dormant/latent during the treatment but become active a few days after treatment.
      These active malignant cells cause abnormal cell division that causes a relapse of cancer.

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