Radiation Therapy: What You Should Know

Radiation therapy is the term for treatment types that use radiation to destroy or shrink cancer cells and tumors.

External beam radiation and internal radiation therapy are the two main types of radiation therapy for treating cancer.

The type of radiation that a doctor recommends will depend on the type of cancer, the size and location of the tumor, and the person’s general health.

Radiation therapy may help meet different treatment goals. For instance, it may enhance the effectiveness of surgery, help prevent the spread of cancer, or relieve symptoms of advanced cancer.

This article discusses the different types of radiation therapy, including how they work and the side effects and risks. It also explains what a person can expect from radiation therapy and the likely outcome.

What is radiation therapy?

Radiation therapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses high-energy beams to destroy cancer cells and shrink tumors.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) notes that more than half of people with cancer receive radiation therapy.

Radiation damages genetic material called DNA inside of cancer cells. If the cancer cell cannot repair the DNA, the cell will not be able to produce new cells and may die.

According to the ACS Trusted Source, the radiation may injure noncancerous cells, but most are able to recover. A person’s treatment team will carefully plan radiation therapy to minimize damage to normal tissues and organs.

Types of radiation therapy

There are two broad types of radiation therapy that doctors use to treat cancers: internal and external.

External beam radiation

External beam radiation is the most common type of radiation treatment for cancer.

External means that the energy beams come from a machine outside of the body. A healthcare professional precisely aims the beams, which penetrate the body to reach the cancer site.

Another name for external beam radiation is teletherapy.

Internal radiation therapy

The second main type of radiation treatment is internal radiation therapy, also known as brachytherapy. During this treatment, a doctor places an implant containing radiation on or near the cancer site.

The implants come in different shapes, which include Trusted Source:

  • tube
  • wire
  • capsule
  • seeds
  • pellets

Systemic radiation therapy

Systemic radiation therapy is another kind of internal radiation therapy.

It requires a person to swallow a radioactive substance, which travels throughout the body to find and kill cancerous cells. Alternatively, a healthcare professional may inject the radioactive substance into a person’s veins.

How it works

External beam radiation and brachytherapy work similarly. Both are local therapies that work on one part of the body, directing high-energy beams at cancer cells to destroy them. However, the two therapies differ in the source of the radiation.

In brachytherapy, the radiation comes from an implant that a doctor places near or in a tumor. In external beam radiation, the radiation comes from a machine outside of the body.

Why people receive radiation therapy

A doctor may recommend radiation therapy for several purposes.

  • reducing or curing early stage cancer
  • stopping cancer from spreading to another part of the body
  • treating cancer that has returned
  • relieving symptoms of advanced cancer

Types of cancer it treats

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) Trusted Source notes that doctors commonly use external beam radiation to treat the following types of cancer:

  • breast cancer
  • Lung cancer
  • prostate cancer
  • colon cancer
  • Cancers of the head or neck

The NCI suggests that brachytherapy may be an especially effective treatment for cancers in certain parts of the body, including the:

  • Cervix
  • Vagina
  • Uterus
  • Rectum
  • Head and neck
  • eye

A doctor may also recommend brachytherapy for cancers of the:

  • prostate
  • brain
  • lung
  • skin
  • breast
  • esophagus
  • anus
  • bladder

What to expect before radiation therapy

External beam radiation therapy and brachytherapy both start with a meeting to plan the treatment. A doctor will examine the individual, ask about their health, and discuss the therapy. In some cases, they may request imaging.

A person who decides to have external beam radiation will typically meet with a radiation oncologist and a radiation therapist for a planning session called a simulation.

The radiation therapist may make small marks on the person’s skin to show where to direct the energy beams. These marks can be either temporary or permanent in the form of a tattoo.

In addition, healthcare professionals may create a body mold that they use to ensure that a person is in the correct position when receiving radiation therapy.

If a person is receiving radiation therapy to the head or neck, they may need to use a face mask to keep their head in place during treatment.

What to expect during radiation therapy

What to expect during radiation therapy will differ depending on which type of therapy a person receives.

External beam radiation

During an external beam radiation therapy session, a person will typically lie on a table beneath a large machine. The radiation therapist will position the individual in the machine and then go into a separate room.

Although the person must try to stay still during the treatment, they generally do not have to hold their breath. The machine will make whirring, clicking, and vacuum cleaner-like noises.

A speaker system in the room allows the person to talk with the radiation therapist during the treatment.

Internal radiation therapy

During brachytherapy, a person’s treatment team will use a tube called a catheter or a larger device called an applicator to insert the radioactive implant.

Once the catheter or applicator is in position, the doctor will place the radiation source inside it. In some cases, the implant may remain in the body for up to a few days before the doctor removes it.

In others, the doctor may place the implant in the body for a shorter time, such as 10–20 minutes, and repeat the treatment periodically for as long as several weeks.

Once the course of treatment is complete, the doctor will remove the catheter or applicator. Sometimes an implant remains in the body permanently, but it will stop releasing radiation after some time.

Alongside other cancer treatments

When doctors use radiation therapy alongside other treatments, such as surgery or chemotherapy, they call it adjuvant treatment.

Some people might receive radiation therapy before surgery to shrink a tumor and make it easier to remove. Other individuals might receive it after surgery to destroy cancer cells that the surgery may have missed.

Sometimes, doctors use radiation therapy as part of palliative care to help relieve symptoms of advanced cancer. These may include:

Side effects and risks

The ACS Trusted Source states that the most common side effects from radiation therapy are:

However, it notes that a person receiving radiation treatment can take steps to relieve these side effects.

People with fatigue can try:

  • balancing rest and activity and taking only short naps throughout the day, if necessary, to avoid interruptions to sleep
  • placing frequently used items within easy reach finding ways to relax, such as reading, deep breathing, or listening to music
  • asking others for help, if possible balancing rest and activity and taking only short naps throughout the day, if necessary
  • consuming high protein foods such as eggs, milk, beans, and meat every day participating in physical exercise
  • remaining hydrated by drinking enough of water seeing a doctor to see whether depression is a factor in fatigue

If skin irritation occurs, a person can try:

  • Wear soft, loose-fitting clothes.
  • Avoid scrubbing or scratching the affected area.
  • Use lukewarm water and mild soap to wash.
  • Protect the irritated area from the sun.
  • Avoid using hot or cold treatments, such as heating pads or ice packs, on the treated skin.
  • Refrain from using shaving lotions or hair removal products on the treated area.
  • Consult the care team before applying any lotions, creams, powders, ointments, or home remedies to the affected area.

People experiencing appetite loss may find the following beneficial:

  • Instead of three substantial meals a day, eat five or six modest ones.
  • Even if there’s no set meal time, eat when you’re hungry.
  • Having guests around for dinner or turning on the TV or radio
  • Maintaining easy access to nutritious snacks
  • If appropriate, liquid supplements to drink
  • Sauces or melted cheese can be used to add calories to veggies.
  • It’s possible to delegate meal preparation to others.

Outlook

Radiation therapy alone may be adequate to cure some malignancies in their early stages. However, studies show that a person’s cancer treatment outcomes are better if they receive both radiation and chemotherapy after surgery, according to the NCI.

It’s crucial to remember that no one can be exposed to an infinite amount of radiation. As a result, doctors confine the therapy to one portion of the body and set a lifetime restriction on how much a person can receive.

Although radiation therapy does not cause pain in and of itself, it can have severe side effects. If a person is in pain, they should inform their medical staff.

Radiation therapy can have an impact on a person’s capacity to have children. It’s a good idea to talk to your doctor about this risk before beginning therapy.

According to the ACS Trusted Source, radiation therapy may slightly increase a person’s risk of getting another cancer. A person should weigh the potential risks and benefits when deciding on cancer treatment.

Summary

Radiation therapy is a common treatment for cancer. A person may receive radiation therapy alone or in combination with other treatments. External beam radiation and internal radiation therapy, or brachytherapy, are the main types of radiation therapy.

An individual’s cancer type, tumor location, and treatment goals will help determine the best course of radiation treatment for them.

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