The field is the exact area on your body where the radiation will be aimed. The therapist may mark your skin with tiny dots of semipermanent ink or tattoos. This is done to make sure radiation is given to the exact same place each time. Once the simulation process is done, a radiation oncologist will make your treatment plan.
They work with a team of radiation experts to do this. The process can take up to several days to complete.
Radiation affects normal cells as well as cancer cells. This causes side effects. Side effects depend on the type of radiation used and the part of the body that's treated. Ask your treatment team what you should expect treatment to be like and how it will make you feel. Ask about short- and long-term side effects. Many times, side effects don't start until you're a few weeks into treatment. Tell your healthcare provider about any side effects you have right away.
It's important to treat them before they get worse. Most side effects go away over time after you stop treatment. Some don't happen until many years after treatment. If you notice any changes, talk with your healthcare provider about how to deal with them. Also ask what you should do if they become serious. Make sure you know what number to call with questions or problems. Is there a different number for evenings and weekends?
Search Encyclopedia. It may be delivered using machines called linear accelerators or via radioactive sources placed inside the patient on a temporary or permanent basis.
Radiation therapy may be used to cure cancer, to relieve a cancer patient's pain or alleviate other symptoms. Preparation for radiation therapy is focused on targeting the radiation dose to the cancer as precisely as possible to minimize side effects and avoid damaging normal cells. Imaging tests may be used to help determine the exact shape and location of your tumor and define its boundaries. Your doctor will give you specific instructions based on the type of exam being performed. An increasing number of patients have their cancers treated successfully using radiation therapy.
Modern technology has combined the use of three-dimensional imaging technology, computerized treatment planning and high-energy x-ray machines to make more precise treatment possible. Professionals involved in radiation therapy treatment include:. More than half of cancer patients are treated with radiation at some time during their course of treatment. Radiation therapy is the use of high-energy radiation to treat cancer.
A radiation oncologist may use radiation to cure cancer or to relieve a cancer patient's pain or alleviate other symptoms due to the cancer.
Radiation therapy works because the radiation destroys the cancer cells' ability to reproduce, and the body naturally gets rid of these cells.
Radiation affects cancer cells by damaging their DNA, so that the cancer cells can no longer divide and grow. Radiation is most effective at killing cells that are actively dividing.
Cancer cells are more vulnerable to radiation for two reasons:. A radiation oncologist may use external beam radiation therapy or brachytherapy to treat cancer. External beam radiation therapy can be generated by a linear accelerator a machine that accelerates electrons to produce x-rays or gamma rays.
Radiation can be an effective treatment for breast cancer, but it does have side effects. Doctors may recommend this therapy in combination with…. What to know about radiation therapy. About Types Method Who it is for Cancer types Before treatment During treatment Other treatments Risks Outlook Summary Radiation therapy is the term for treatment types that use radiation to destroy or shrink cancer cells and tumors.
What is radiation therapy? Types of radiation therapy. How it works. Why people receive radiation therapy.
Types of cancer it treats. What to expect before radiation therapy. What to expect during radiation therapy. Alongside other cancer treatments. Side effects and risks. Exposure to air pollutants may amplify risk for depression in healthy individuals. Costs associated with obesity may account for 3. Related Coverage. What to know about radiation therapy? Medically reviewed by Seunggu Han, MD. Proton therapy as an option for treating cancer. Medically reviewed by Deborah Weatherspoon, Ph.
Radiation for prostate cancer: What does it involve? Medically reviewed by Kevin Martinez, MD. What are the side effects of radiation for breast cancer? Radiation therapy damages cells by destroying the genetic material that controls how cells grow and divide. While both healthy and cancerous cells are damaged by radiation therapy, the goal of radiation therapy is to destroy as few normal, healthy cells as possible.
Normal cells can often repair much of the damage caused by radiation. More than half of all people with cancer receive radiation therapy as part of their cancer treatment. Doctors use radiation therapy to treat just about every type of cancer. Radiation therapy is also useful in treating some noncancerous benign tumors.
Your doctor may suggest radiation therapy as an option at different times during your cancer treatment and for different reasons, including:. Radiation therapy side effects depend on which part of your body is being exposed to radiation and how much radiation is used.
You may experience no side effects, or you may experience several. Most side effects are temporary, can be controlled and generally disappear over time once treatment has ended.
Some side effects may develop later. For example, in rare circumstances a new cancer second primary cancer that's different from the first one treated with radiation may develop years later. Ask your doctor about potential side effects, both short and long term, that may occur after your treatment. Before you undergo external beam radiation therapy, your health care team guides you through a planning process to ensure that radiation reaches the precise spot in your body where it's needed.
Planning typically includes:. After the planning process, your radiation therapy team decides what type of radiation and what dose you'll receive based on your type and stage of cancer, your general health, and the goals for your treatment. The precise dose and focus of radiation beams used in your treatment is carefully planned to maximize the radiation to your cancer cells and minimize the harm to surrounding healthy tissue.
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