Radiation therapy is a cancer treatment that utilizes intense beams of energy to destroy cancer cells. The procedure relies on advanced technology to target malignancies precisely, thereby sparing as much healthy tissue as possible. There are many types of this therapy delivered in various ways, depending on the diagnosis and professional recommendation. Here is more information on radiation therapy and how it works:
What Is Radiation Therapy?
Radiation therapy uses high doses of radiation to fracture the DNA of cancer cells. The goal is to damage the genetic material within cells, preventing them from growing or dividing further. External beam radiation comes from a machine outside the body, and it aims high-energy beams at the tumor from a specific distance.
What Does It Treat?
Oncologists use radiation therapy to treat nearly every type of cancer, including breast, lung, prostate, and brain tumors. It eliminates the cancer, or it helps prevent recurrence after a tumor is removed surgically. In some cases, physicians administer radiation before surgery to shrink a large tumor.
This modality is also effective for palliative care in patients with advanced cancer. Palliative radiation shrinks tumors that cause pain or pressure on other organs, and this helps to relieve symptoms even if a cure is not possible. The care team evaluates the specific type and stage of cancer to determine the most appropriate radiation application.
How Does It Work?
Radiation therapy kills cancer cells or slows their growth by permanently damaging their DNA. Cancer cells with damaged DNA stop dividing or die, and they are subsequently broken down and removed by the body’s natural processes. This mechanism disrupts the cell cycle, the series of events that take place in a cell as it grows and divides.
The process of cell death does not happen immediately upon the first treatment. It takes days or weeks of consistent radiation exposure before the DNA is damaged enough to stop the cancer cells from surviving. The cancer cells continue to die after the therapy sessions conclude.
What Does the Process Involve?
Before the actual treatment begins, the team utilizes scans to design a customized treatment plan. These detailed images show the precise location of the tumor and the surrounding healthy tissues, so the doctor can calculate the correct dosage and beam angles. Specialists verify that the plan delivers the required energy to the malignancy.
During a typical external beam session, a machine moves around the patient to direct radiation from multiple angles. The patient lies on the treatment table in the same established position, and the experience is painless and noninvasive. Treatments usually continue for several weeks to allow healthy cells time to recover between sessions.
What Are the Benefits?
Radiation therapy is a local treatment, which means it affects only a specific part of the body. This localized approach allows doctors to treat the cancer effectively, yet it limits toxicity to the rest of the body. Another benefit is the potential to preserve organs. Radiation can sometimes shrink tumors enough to avoid the need for radical surgery, or it allows surgeons to perform less invasive procedures.
Learn More From a Specialist
Your care team will monitor your progress closely throughout the treatment course to improve your experience. Recovery times vary depending on the specific type of radiation used, and follow-up imaging will demonstrate how the tumor has responded to the therapy. Schedule a consultation with a radiation oncologist to discuss whether this treatment is appropriate for your specific diagnosis.
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