provides a comprehensive look at the who, what, when and how of Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy definition - medical term
The use of high-energy rays to damage
cancer cells, stopping them from growing and dividing. Like surgery,
radiation therapy is a local treatment that affects cancer cells only
in the treated area.
Radiation can come from a machine (external
radiation or from an a small container of radioactive material
implanted directly into or near the tumor (internal radiation). Some
patients receive both kinds of radiation therapy. External radiation
therapy is usually given on an outpatient basis in a hospital or
clinic, five days a week for several weeks. Patients are not
radioactive during or after the treatment. For internal radiation
therapy, the patient stays in the hospital for a few days. The
implant may be temporary or permanent. Because the level of radiation
is highest during the hospital stay, patients may not be able to have
visitors, or may have visitors only for a short time. Once an implant
is removed, there is no radioactivity in the body. The amount of
radiation in a permanent implant goes down to a safe level before the
patient leaves the hospital.
Side effects of radiation therapy
depend on the treatment dose and the part of the body that is
treated. The most common side effects are tiredness, skin reactions
(such as a rash or redness) in the treated area, and loss of
appetite. Radiation therapy can cause inflammation of tissues and
organs in and around the body site radiated. Radiation therapy can
also cause a decrease in the number of white blood cells. Although
the side effects of radiation therapy can be unpleasant, they can
usually be treated or controlled. It also helps to know that, in most
cases, they are not permanent.
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