Radiation Therapy Cancer Treatment

Sometimes a doctor will recommend radiation therapydelivered internally is sometimes called brachytherapy.
as a treatment for cancer. Radiation therapy is alsoIn external radiation therapy, the two most common
sometimes call radiotherapy.kinds of radiation used are x-rays and gamma rays.
This therapy is rarely used alone as a cancerThere are very strict state and federal regulations
treatment. It is usually used in combination with otherthat oversee the use and care of the equipment
treatments like chemotherapy or surgery.used, and the safety of the patient is the highest
Almost everybody has had their teeth x-rayed orpriority.
have had chest x-rays as part of normal dental andInternal radiation therapy involved implanting
medical care. Radiation therapy is based on the sameradioactive substances like cesium, iridium, and iodine
technology, except that the x-rays are delivered at anear or into cancer cells. These substances can be
much higher dosage that is used for regular medicaldelivered by injection directly into a body cavity or
and dental examinations. At high doses, x-rays killintroduced by the patient swallowing a pill.
cancer cells and shrink tumors.If you or a loved one is undergoing or about to
It can be delivered to a cancer patient eitherundergo this type of cancer treatment, the best
externally or internally. When radiation is deliveredadvice is to talk to the doctor rather than friends,
externally, a radiation beam is used. When it isneighbors, or relatives who once had radiation
delivered internally, radioactive substances aretherapy. Specialists can answer questions and provide
implanted into the body. Radiation therapy that iscurrent information that will help to alleviate much of
delivered internally is being used much morethe fear associated with this type of cancer
frequently today. The type of therapy that istreatment.