|
||
|
||
|
||
|
Radiotherapy
Radiation therapy is high-energy radiation such as xrays and/or gamma rays used to destroy cancer cells and stop them from growing and multiplying. It is sometimes called radiotherapy, x-ray therapy or irradiation.
Radiation therapy is treats the area affected by cancer and in large enough doses, kills cancer cells because they are more sensitive to radiation than normal cells. The normal cells will be affected to some extent but they can repair the damage caused by radiation. Treatments are planned to cause as little damage as possible to healthy cells while making sure the cancer receives an adequate dose. There are many different types of radiation therapy, and the type chosen depends on the individual patient and the type of cancer. Radiation therapy can be given
 internally - placing an implant of radioactive material such as caesium or iridium into the body, close to the cancerous tissue. externally - radiation is electronically produced by a linear accelerator, deep therapy or superficial therapy machine. It is painless and similar to having an x-ray taken.How is it used in treating cancer?
Radiation is an extremely versatile form of treatment. For some kinds of cancer, radiation alone is enough to destroy the cancer. In other cases, it is used in combination with surgery and/or chemotherapy. It may be used before surgery to "shrink" a cancer or after surgery to keep any remaining cancer cells from growing again. Radiation treatment also has a very important role in relieving symptoms caused by cancer by reducing pressure, bleeding or pain. Find out more
Adelaide Radiotherapy Centre - has good patient information section
 Top |
Info & support 
