WHAT IS RADIATION THERAPY AND HOW DOES IT WORK?
Radiation Therapy or Radiotherapy is a treatment where radiation is used to kill cancer cells or to control the growth of cancer or to relieve the symptoms, such as pain.
Radiation Therapy works by destroying or damaging cells – normal cells are able to repair themselves, whereas cancer cells cannot. Advancements in medical science is now allowing doctors to better target the radiation to protect healthy cells.
In some cases, Radiation Therapy is the only treatment a patient needs and in some other cases, it might be only one part of a patient’s treatment. The therapy is sometimes used to make the primary treatment more effective – radiation therapy before surgery helps shrink the cancer and allows for less extensive surgery than would otherwise be needed; or it may be used to destroy small amounts of cancer that would have been left behind post-surgery.
WHEN IS RADATION THERAPY USED?
Radiation Therapy may be used in the early stages of cancer or after it has begun to spread. It may be used to:
- try and cure the cancer completely.
- make other treatments more effective – may be combined with chemotherapy or used before surgery
- reduce the risk of cancer coming back after a surgery
- relieve symptoms if a cure isn’t possible.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF RADIATION THERAPY?
Radiation Therapy can be given in several ways, and the doctor will recommend the best depending upon the type and stage of cancer. The most common types of radiation therapy are:
- External Radiation Therapy – a machine is used to carefully aim beam of radiation at the cancer.
- Brachytherapy – or Radiation Therapy Implants where small pieces of radioactive metal (usually temporarily) are placed inside the body near the cancer
- Radioisotope Therapy - Radiation Therapy Injections, capsules or drinks where radioactive liquid is either swallowed or injected into the blood.
The therapy is usually given in hospital and the patient can normally go home soon after external radiation therapy but may need to stay in hospital for a few days if the patient undergoes radiation therapy implants or radioisotope therapy.
WHAT ARE THE SIDE-EFFECTS OF RADIATION THERAPY?
While Radiation Therapy kills the cancer cells, it can damage some healthy cells in the area being treated and can cause some side effects, such as:
- Sore, red skin
- Feeling of fatigue
- Hair loss in the area being treated
- Feeling sick
- Loss of appetite
- Sore mouth
- Diarrhoea
- Stiff joints and muscles
Many of these side-effects can be prevented or treated and most pass away once the treatment stops.