Radiation therapy for cancer

Radiation therapy for cancer

Radiation therapy is a cancer treatment method that uses ionising radiation to treat cancer and benign conditions. This is also widely known as radiotherapy, and this involves killing cancer cells and shrinking tumours using radiation.

How is radiation therapy used in cancer treatment?

There are many methods involved in radiation therapy.

External beam radiotherapy: This involves delivering by a linear accelerator, a machine that aims radiation at the part of your body that has cancer. Here high energy x-rays are used, and it focuses on the specific part of your body.

There are different ways in which linear accelerator is used to treat cancer. 3D CRT is the older technique, while there is a new technique called IGRT and then rapid arc.

Brachytherapy: Internal radiation therapy with a solid source is called brachytherapy. This involves the use of radiation close to your body or inside your body to treat cancer.

What are the advantages of the newer radiation therapy techniques?

It is easier for cancer specialists to bend or shape the dose according to the tumour outline in the newer techniques. This way, you can provide a higher dose for the tumour region and a lower dose to the organ at risk (OAR) region or the normal tissues. This will provide better disease control with minimal side effects.

How do these radiation x-rays act?

The radiation x-rays are directed at the region or close to where the cancer is diagnosed in a person. For example, if a person has undergone surgery for breast cancer, then the area around the cancer was diagnosed is found, and then the x-rays are directed.

How does radiation therapy work?

There are breaks in the cancer cells' DNA, which makes them more susceptible to damage due to radiation therapy when compared to the normal tissues.

Kauvery Hospital There are myths surrounding radiation therapy that it is painful for the patient.

But modern radiation methods are well tolerable and come with minimal side effects. Please consult with the cancer specialist using the oncologist near me option to find the proper consultation.

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