How does Radiation Therapy work?

Since the discovery of radioactivity and X-rays, scientists realized that radiation could cause damage to cells by interfering with the cell's ability to grow and reproduce. Cells which are growing and multiplying are especially sensitive to the effects of radiation. This is particularly important in treating cancer. Cancer cells reproduce more frequently than normal cells, so they are more susceptible to damage from radiation. Normal cells can also be affected by radiation, but normal cells tend to be able to recover from radiation damage.

When Radiation Treatments are given for cancer, special care is taken to ensure that as much normal tissue as possible is spared from radiation exposure. The radiation dose is precisely measured and carefully aimed to kill as many cancer cells as possible while sparing normal tissue.

Benefits of Radiation Therapy

Radiation Therapy can be used to treat almost any type of cancer, anywhere in the body.

When radiation is combined with surgery, the radiation treatments may be given pre-operatively. In this case, radiation will be used to decrease the size of a tumor to facilitate removal. More commonly though the radiation treatments are given post-operatively.

Sometimes, radiation treatments may be given in combination with chemotherapy treatments. For many people, Radiation Therapy will be the only treatment necessary for their cancer. Whatever the case, Radiation Therapy plays a very important part in cancer treatment.

Risk Involved with Radiation Therapy

For any treatment of disease, there are always risks involved. This is also true of Radiation Therapy. In damaging cancer cells, some normal cells may also be damaged, resulting in side effects. The potential side effects will be explained to you by the Radiation Oncologist and the Radiation Oncology Nurse.

Now there are side effects from Radiation Therapy.As always I remind you to contact your Doctor if you have any concerns.Remember I am NOT a Doctor..I am just like many of you trying hard to find answers in the easiest way to understand.Mind you the topic of Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy is something you need to study on and ask alot of questions to understand.Just like Cancer is hard to understand some of the topics discussed in these pages is a tad heavy in material.So please make sure if you have concerns to talk to your Doctor about them.And make sure when you leave the office you understand what was said.Most times we leave the office still confussed and that doesn't help matters.
The next few pages are filled with info on the side effects of Radiation Therapy