| Cancer radiation therapy is a very important part of | | | | cancer radiation therapy course can be administered |
| treating cancer today. It is a fact that almost half of | | | | in the treatment area for some cases. |
| all cancer patients being treated will undergo radiation | | | | Types of Radiation are:o Ionizing radiation that can kill |
| as a part of their cancer treatment. It is therefore | | | | and destroy cells and change genes to stop cancer |
| essential to understand what cancer radiation therapy | | | | cells from growing. These are of two types: |
| involves, how it is utilized to treat cancer, what the | | | | 1. Photons (gamma and x rays) |
| side effects are and how to successfully deal with | | | | 2. Particle radiation (protons, neutrons, electrons, |
| them. | | | | alpha and beta particles) |
| What is radiation and how does it help | | | | The more energy this radiation has, the deeper it can |
| Energy carried by a stream or waves of particles is | | | | penetrate the tissues. The right type of radiation is |
| called radiation. This can alter or change genes and | | | | selected by a "radiation oncologist".o Non-ionizing |
| molecules of a cell. Thus, cancerous cell genes can be | | | | radiation which involves Radio waves, Light waves |
| damaged by radiation inhibiting their growth and | | | | and Microwaves that do not have that much energy |
| division. Therefore cancer radiation therapy is | | | | and is unable to ionize cancer cells |
| generally used to destroy cancer and shrink | | | | Common sources of treatment are:o High-energy |
| cancerous tumors in the body. | | | | photons: These come from sources like cesium, |
| This type of radiation works better on cells that are | | | | cobalt, a linear accelerator etc. This is the most |
| active and quickly divide than on cells that are | | | | common treatment used today.o Particle beams: |
| inactive or resting or slow dividing stage (in the G0 | | | | These are produced by a linac (linear accelerator). |
| stage). Cancer cells usually divide very quickly and are | | | | Also, known as electron beams, they are utilized for |
| uncontrollable. Radiation therapy kills these cells but | | | | cancer tumors that are not deeply embedded in |
| also affects tissues of normal dividing cells, causing | | | | tissues but are close to the surface.o Proton beams: |
| side effects. Thus every time a patient undergoes | | | | A new form of particle beam radiation. Protons do |
| cancer radiation therapy the treatment involves a | | | | not cause a lot of damage to normal tissues as they |
| balance between sparing the healthy cells and | | | | penetrate but kill cells in their path. Thus they cause |
| destroying the cancerous ones. | | | | few side effects while delivering more radiation to |
| This types of Cancer takes days or even weeks | | | | cancer cells.o Neutron Beams: Used for the prostate, |
| before the cancerous or normal cells begin to be | | | | neck and head they are helpful when other cancer |
| killed and sometimes they even die months after the | | | | radiation therapy does not work. |
| treatment has ended. This is the reason for side | | | | Some of the major side effects of cancer radiation |
| effects that are long-term in nature. Though at first | | | | are extreme fatigue, skin damage and discoloration, |
| it was believed that radiation therapy for cancer | | | | throat and mouth problems. When certain areas like |
| could not be given to a particular area more than | | | | the brain, lungs are treated, then the side effects can |
| once on account of the damage to healthy cells, | | | | vary and range from memory loss to nausea and |
| recent study and research shows that a second | | | | vomiting. |