Radiation Treatments

Radiation treatment is used for destroying cancer cells to stop them from growing and multiplying. Radiation cannot be seen, felt or smelled.

There are two types of radiation treatments: internal and external. Internal treatment is used when an implant is placed near the tumor and external when receiving from a machine; some patients receive both kinds of therapy. Radiation treatments can be used in combination with chemotherapy, surgery, hormone therapy or alone. Radiation therapy is not painful; the side affects are what can cause pain. These days, where technology is so advanced, radiation treatment is causing less side affects.

Some side affects include: damage to the skin surface, discoloring, swelling in the soft tissues, fatigue, infertility, hair loss, dry eyes, dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea etc;  it all depends on the person receiving the treatment, the organ in the body receiving radiation treatment, and the amount of radiation (dose) used along with the duration of treatments. Most of these side affects are temporary; they go away after the effects of radiation go away.

During the therapy session you will be laying down on a table. Is very important to stay very still, as the technician has to mark the area and position so the machine knows where the organ is that needs to receive the radiation. Radiation is scheduled for a number of days per week for as many weeks as the radiation oncologist consider is necessary to kill destroy the cancer cells. The oncologist is the specialist that most people see when they have cancer.