Cancer can also be treated by performing radiotherapy!!
Radiotherapy is a method used to treat cancer. While performing radiotherapy, doctors use a beam of radiation on the tissues that get affected by cancer. The use of such radiation shrink the cancerous cells.
Radiotherapy is used to treat many types of cancers.
How does radiotherapy work?
Radiotherapy involves use of radiation, i.e.High energy radiation like gamma rays or X-rays. Radiation causes destruction of DNA of cancer cells. Once this happens, the production and multiplication of cancer causing cells comes to a halt.
When a radio therapy is performed, healthy cells also get affected. However these healthy cells can rectify themselves.
What are the uses of Radiotherapy?
Useful in destroying malignant tumour. It can be used in combination with other methods of treatment for cancer.
It is useful in controlling the progress of cancer.
Radiotherapy can be used after performing surgery for cancer to ensure that all the cells of cancer get completely destroyed.
Radiotherapy can also be used to reduce the size of tumour before performing a surgery.
How is radiotherapy performed?
External radiotherapy- affected portion or your body receives radiation from outside through a machine or a device that contains high energy radiation.
Internal Radiotherapy- the tumour is exposed to radiation through implants or liquids that contain radiation. These liquids or implants are placed inside the body.
What happens when a radiotherapy is performed?
When a radiotherapy is performed, doctors take the patient to the radiation room. They then ask the patient to rest on a couch. Next they position a radiation machine over you. Doctors may place sheets of lead on the non-cancerous parts of the body to protect them from receiving radiation. Doctor may then leave the room and monitor you from different room by bringing into use a small TV like monitor.
Is radiotherapy painful?
External radiotherapy is not all that painful. Some individuals sometimes develop a skin reaction after the radiotherapy is performed. For few individuals such a skin trouble could be painful. Usually the trouble resolves on its own. However if you feel the trouble is really making living difficult, do not hesitate to seek help from your doctor.
Overall radiation therapy is not all that painful. However some people may experience side effects after taking such a treatment. For people who have had a radiotherapy performed over the neck or shoulder region, they may suffer from sore throat. If the therapy is done on the head, one may experience hair fall, for chest portions one could suffer from sore throat or cough. Usually the side effects are not persistent and are short lived.
People may experience high levels of fatigue, changes in the skin and a loss in appetite after a radiotherapy.