Radiation Treatments

Radiation Therapy is a treatment that ionizes radiation to kill cancer cells and stops them from spreading.  There are two types of radiation treatment: external beam, which is outside the body, with a machine that aims the radiation at the cancer, and internal radiation, which is put in or around the cancer in your body. Sixty percent of cancer patients need radiation treatments. High doses of radiation kills or slows the growth of cancer cells. Radiation is also used to treat cancer when there isn’t a cure to reduce symptoms. Treatment doesn’t kill cells right away; it could take days or weeks. Cells keep dying for weeks or months after treatment.

Therapy can affect healthy cells, but they almost always recover. Here are some methods doctors use to try to protect healthy cells: low doses of radiation, spreading treatment out over time, aiming at a precise part of your body and using medicine. Radiation doesn’t hurt but the side effects that may occur can cause pain. Some side effects maybe fibrosis, hair loss, dryness, or another form of cancer. Radiation therapy can be used with other cancer treatments like surgery or chemotherapy.

Once you finish therapy you’ll have follow ups for life. Here are symptoms you should watch for: pain that doesn’t go away, new lumps, swelling, rashes, bruises, bleeding, appetite changes, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, weight loss, fever, cough, or hoarseness that doesn’t go away or anything that worries you.

If you have any questions or concerns please don’t hesitate to contact your doctor. Also please make sure you go to your follow up appointments.