The use of radiation to eliminate cancer cells is known as radiotherapy.
When should radiation be used?
Radiotherapy can be used to treat cancer in its early stages or after it has spread.
It may be used for a variety of purposes, including:
- Attempt a total cure for cancer (curative radiotherapy)
- make other therapies more successful — it can be administered in conjunction with chemotherapy or before surgery, for example (neo-adjuvant radiotherapy)
- lessen the chance of cancer reappearing after surgery (adjuvant radiotherapy)
- If a cure isn't possible, ease symptoms (palliative radiotherapy)
After surgery, radiotherapy is usually regarded the most effective cancer treatment, but results vary from person to person.
Different types of radiotherapy
Radiotherapy can be administered in a variety of methods. Your doctor will advise you on which type is best for you.
The following are the most prevalent types:
- External radiotherapy involves using a machine to precisely focus radiation beams at the tumour.
- Small particles of radioactive metal are (usually temporarily) implanted into your body near the malignancy (radiotherapy implants).
- Radiation injections, capsules, or drinks (radioisotope treatment), in which a radioactive liquid is swallowed or injected into your bloodstream.
- During breast cancer surgery, intrabeam radiotherapy is used to deliver radiation directly to the tumor (this treatment is not available at all hospitals)
In most cases, radiotherapy is administered in a hospital setting. External radiation normally allows you to go home right away, but if you have implants or radioisotope therapy, you may need to stay in the hospital for a few days.
The majority of people will have numerous therapy sessions spaced out over a few weeks.
Radiation treatment side effects
Radiotherapy can eliminate cancer cells while also harming healthy cells in the treated region.
This can have certain negative consequences, such as:
- Painful, red skin,
- Tiredness,
- Hair loss in the treated region,
- Nausea,
- Lack of appetite,
- A sore mouth,
- Diarrhoea
Many of these adverse effects may be addressed or avoided, and the majority of them will go away once therapy is stopped.
Because the radiation goes through your body, external radiotherapy does not make you radioactive.
Because the radiation from implants or injections might last for many days in your body, you may need to stay in the hospital and avoid close contact with others for a few days as a precaution.