Radiation Treatments

It is comforting to know there are radiation treatments available for cancer patients. Your doctor will help you decide which procedure is most favorable for you and your body. Most cancer patients require having some amount of radiation therapy. Whether you have radiation only, have radiation along with chemotherapy, or need it after surgery, it is designed to destroy the abnormal, splitting cancer cells in the body.

While the purpose of radiation is to destroy cancer cells and/or to shrink a tumor, unfortunately, it is also doing damage to the body's healthy cells. However, the body is designed to reproduce new healthy cells and overcome the radiation treatment.

There are two different types of radiation therapy and dosage amounts. The one that is right for you is determined by age, body area and type of cancer. Radiation is given either internally or externally. A large machine distributes the external type while the internal type requires implanting pellets. Some cancer patients need both types of radiation treatment. External is done five days a week. The body needs rest on the two day weekend. Internal requires at least a one night hospital stay.

Medical teams and support groups are available to support you and provide you with any answers you have about the procedure of radiation. Your family and friends will be at your side also. Help your body heal quickly by getting the needed sleep it will need during treatments. Plan and eat good nutritional meals to build new healthy body cells.