Radiotherapy is a cancer treatment method that uses radiation to destroy cancer cells or limit their growth by exposing them to various types of ionizing radiation, such as X-rays, gamma rays, high-energy electrons, or heavy particles.
Nearly half of all cancer patients require radiotherapy at some stage in their disease progression. Radiotherapy is planned and implemented by a specialized medical team that includes oncologists, radiation physicists, and radiation technologists.
The type, dose, and schedule of radiotherapy are determined based on a comprehensive assessment of the patient's condition and the characteristics of the cancerous tumor. It is important to discuss the benefits and risks of radiotherapy with the treating medical team to gain a complete understanding of the treatment and the expected outcomes.
Radiotherapy targets cancer cells and causes damage to the DNA within these cells, inhibiting their ability to divide and grow. It is worth noting that genetic damage kills cancer cells or slows their growth.
Radiotherapy can be used as part of comprehensive cancer treatment. It can be used before surgery to reduce the size of a tumor, or after surgery to eliminate remaining cancer cells and reduce the likelihood of cancer recurrence.
This type of treatment can be used to relieve symptoms associated with cancer, such as pain or pressure on surrounding organs.
In some cases, radiation therapy can be used to monitor cancer growth and reduce its spread. Radiation can be directed to the targeted area to shrink the tumor and control cancerous growth.
If your physician decides that radiotherapy is the most appropriate method for this stage of your overall treatment journey, they will determine the treatment plan, appropriate dose, and schedule. You will then undergo a radiation simulation session, during which the treatment conditions will be simulated and a plan and template will be prepared to determine the locations of the radiation beams.
It is worth noting that during the simulation session we mentioned, you will undergo CT scans or X-rays to determine the full extent of the tumor and determine the radiation focus points.
One round of radiotherapy extends over 5 days a week for 10 weeks. Each treatment session lasts approximately 10-30 minutes. It's worth noting that the number of treatment sessions varies depending on the specialist's plan and the size and location of the tumor.
During the radiotherapy session, you will lie on the table, and the medical team will hold you in a position exactly as used during the simulation mentioned earlier. After lying down, a linear accelerator will be used to direct and focus the radiation according to the coordinates monitored. The radiation machine may move around you and the table, and a buzzing sound may be heard. There's no need to worry in all cases.
Radiation therapy is used for cancers that can occur in almost any part of the body, and in approximately 50% of cancer patients. In general, the most important benefits of radiation therapy include:
Despite the benefits of radiation therapy, there are some potential side effects. These depend on the part of the body exposed to radiation and the dose of radiation used. You may experience no side effects, or you may experience several. Most of these side effects are temporary, manageable, and generally disappear over time after treatment is complete. The most important of these include:
It is important to discuss the risks and potential side effects of radiation therapy with the treating medical team before treatment begins. Patients should be provided with accurate information and support to help them cope with and understand the potential effects of radiation therapy.
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