RADIATION THERAPY- Uses and Side Effects
WHAT IS RADIATION THERAPY?
Radiation therapy is used as an effective treatment for cancer and, less frequently for thyroid disease, blood disorders, and benign growths. Radiotherapy most frequently uses X-rays, but protons or other sorts of energy can also be used.
The term "radiation therapy" actually refers to external beam radiotherapy in which the high-energy beams emitted from a machine outside of our body aims at a particular point on our body.
The therapy works by damaging cells due to which the genetic material that controls cell growth and replication are destroyed in process. While both healthy and malignant cells are damaged by radiation, the aim is to destroy few normal, healthy cells .The damage caused by radiation to cell is often repaired by normal cells itself.For symptomatic relief you can always consult doctors and
DIFFERENT TYPES OF RADIATION THERAPY
DIFFERENT TYPES OF RADIATION THERAPY
External beam radiotherapy
This is the foremost common type. It involves emission of beam of radiation from an external machine that aims the treatment area.
Different forms are available, counting on the necessity. High-energy beams, for instance, can target cancer that's deeper within the body.
Internal radiotherapy
There are differing types of internal radiotherapy and involves implanting a radioactive substance into the body.
Brachytherapy involves inserting a radioactive implant in or on the brink of the cancerous tissue. The implant could also be temporary or permanent.
The aim is to reduce the extent of exposure of radiation to healthy tissue Doctors may recommend this treatment for prostate or ovarian cancer, for instance.
A doctor may recommend undergoing both main sorts of radiotherapy. the choice will depend on:
the type of cancer
the size of the tumor
the tumor’s location, including the kinds of tissue nearby
WHY RADIATION THERAPY IS DONE?
1) To cure or shrink early-stage cancer
Some cancers are very sensitive to radiation. Radiation could also be employed by itself in these cases to form the cancer shrink or completely get away. In some cases, chemotherapy or other anti-cancer drugs could also be given first. For other cancers, radiation could also be used before surgery to shrink the tumor.For some sorts of cancer, radiation and chemotherapy or other sorts of anti-cancer drugs could be used together. Certain drugs makes cancer cells more sensitive so that radiation can effectively work , they are called radiosensitizers.
2)To treat cancer that has returned (recurred)
If an individual's cancer has returned (recurred), radiation could be wont to treat the cancer or to treat symptoms caused by advanced cancer. Whether radiation are going to be used after recurrence depends on many factors.
3)To stop cancer from returning (recurring) elsewhere
Cancer can spread from where it began to other body parts. Doctors often assume that a couple of cancer cells might have already got spread even once they can’t be seen on imaging scans like CT scans or MRIs.
4)as the first treatment for cancer
WHAT ARE THE SIDE EFFECTS?
Radiation affects both healthy as well as malignant cells and due to which an individual experiences side effects.
Specific side effects depend upon factors such as:
the area receiving treatment
the person’s overall health
the type and doses of radiation
1)Short term side effects
Short term side effects vary, counting on the a part of the body receiving radiation.
They can include:
- fatigue
- Hair loss at treatment site
- diarrhea
- skin changes like skin irritation at treatment site
- nausea and vomiting
- Screening for anxiety and depression should be wiped out people undergoing radiotherapy and offering counseling services to those that may enjoy them.
2)Long term side effects
Long term side effects depends upon above mentioned factors including the treatment site.
They include:
- Chest irradiation causes heart or lung problems
If neck region is irradiated person confers thyroid problems, resulting in hormonal changes,
lymphedema, which involves lymph fluid build up and causing pain in case of lymph nodes irritation - hormonal changes, bladder irritation, frequent urination, sexual dysfunction including an opportunity of early menopause, from radiation within the pelvic area
- In head and neck one often has xerostomia, saliva gets thickened , there's difficulty in swallowing, pharyngitis, changes within the way food tastes, nausea, mouth sores, cavity
- shortness of breath
- Cough
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
For symptomatic relief prescribed medicine can be bought online from online pharmacy store in delhi.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION
In some cases, your cancer may answer treatment directly. In other cases, it's going to take weeks or months for your cancer to reply. Some people aren't helped by radiotherapy.