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Radiation Therapy

Radiation Therapy

Radiation Therapy or Radiotherapy is a cancer treatment that uses energy as particles or waves to kill cancer cells. It is done by machines that send these waves directly into the cancer cells or tumor externally but it can also be delivered internally by placing radio active substances inside your body. It destroys cancer cells and good cells but it is directed as close as possible away from good cells to avoid damage.

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  1. How does radiation therapy primarily work?

    Radiation therapy is the use of high dose x-rays to destroy c...

  2. What is the difference between brachytherapy and teletherapy in radiation therapy?

    Brachytherapy designates the use of radioactive sources withi...

  3. What are the side effects of radiation therapy?

    Skin may become red, warm and sensitive may also become darke...

  4. What are some Pros of Radiation Therapy?

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  5. What is the cost of radiation therapy?

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Top Questions Asked on ChaCha Mobile for Radiation Therapy

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Month

  1. What are the side effects of radiation therapy?

    Skin may become red, warm and sensitive may also become darke...

  2. What is the difference between chemotherapy and radiation?

    Chemotherapy is the use of chemicals that have a specific tox...

  3. How does radiation therapy primarily work?

    Radiation therapy is the use of high dose x-rays to destroy c...

  4. Is chemo therapy and radiation therapy the same thing?

    Radiation, which destroys the cancerous cells of a tumor in a...

  5. What does radiation therapy do?

    N radiation therapy, high-energy radiation from X-rays, gamma...

About Radiation Therapy

There are two types of radiation therapy, external beam and internal beam. The most common form is the external beam. It aims high powered beams directly at the tumor. Internal beam, also called interstitial radiation or brachytherapy, is accomplished by placing radioactive seeds directly into a tumor or near it.

Side effects of radiation therapy include hair loss, skin pain, shedding of the outer layer of skin (desquamation), increased skin coloring (hyperpigmentation), death of skin tissue (atrophy), itching, fatigue and malaise, low blood counts, difficulty or pain swallowing, erythema, edema, changes in taste, anorexia, vomiting, increased susceptibility to infection and fetal damage if pregnant.

For more details, check out the United States National Library of Medicine. It offers a great service called MedlinePlus which has extensive information regarding radiation therapy.

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Radiation Therapy