Well, people may be aware of the fact that radiation therapy works perfectly in fighting against cancer. An oncologist’s use of radiation therapy for cancer treatment is planned systematically. Many times, cancer patients can shrink their tumors with its help. In addition to that, one’s radiation disables cancer cells from growing at a rapid pace. Besides that, the doctor needs to carry out several diagnostic tests before going for radiation therapy. However, an individual may consult an oncologist at HCG EKO Cancer Centre for this cause.
A reader may go through this article to find out the significance of radiation therapy in cancer treatment. People can also find other treatment options for attaining cancer cells.
What is the use of Radiation Therapy?
An individual must be aware of the fact that radiation therapy is a common treatment for cancer. A cancer specialist makes use of high-energy particles for destroying cancer cells. Here, one’s oncologist aims to make small breaks in the DNA inside cells. Following that, an individual’s cancer cells stop growing as well as dividing at that moment.
Many times, a cancer patient’s cancer cells die with the use of radiation therapy. Furthermore, oncologists opine that certain normal cells can also be affected by these radiations. Still, a person’s cells can recover over time and start functioning normally.
What is the purpose of giving Radiation Therapy?
A doctor’s use of radiation therapy for cancer treatment is always purposive as well as properly planned. In general, one’s oncologist may either use radiation therapy alone or in combination with other treatments. Eventually, a cancer doctor looks into the stage, location, and type of cancer beforehand.
Few purposes of Radiation Therapy may include the following:
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To attain recurrence of Cancer Cells
Normally, people may know that cancer cells tend to spread from one body part to another. Moving on, an oncologist may use radiation therapy in the area where cancer cells have spread. Following that, a cancer specialist may prevent cancer cells from becoming tumors in this manner. Many times, doctors use radiation in areas where the future possibility of spreading cancer is there.
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For treating symptoms caused by Advanced Cancer
Here, a doctor may treat the tumors with the help of radiation therapy. Ultimately, one may get relief from symptoms of pain or breathing problems in this way. However, people may use the term palliative radiation for this cancer treatment.
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Shrinking Tumors in its early stage
Usually, a cancer specialist opines that certain tumors are quite sensitive to radiation. Following that, an oncologist may use radiation therapy for shrinking this kind of tumor. In addition to that, doctors may use high-powered radiation before going for surgical intervention. Furthermore, a cancer specialist believes that radiation causes less damage to the body. Ultimately, a cancer patient may receive anti-cancer drugs along with radiation therapy.
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Treating Cancer that has returned
An experienced oncologist may make use of radiation therapy for cancer treatment to attain cancer cells that have returned. Still, a doctor looks upon certain factors before administering radiation therapy. Here, an oncologist knows that few tumors don’t show any response to radiation. So, doctors treats cancer after looking into different factors only.
What are the ways of giving Radiation therapy?
Ideally, a cancer doctor may use three different ways to administer radiation therapy. Mostly, an individual’s type, as well as the severity of cancer, is determined before choosing the type of radiation therapy.
Certain ways of giving Radiation Therapy may include the following:
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Internal Radiation
People may use the term brachytherapy for referring to internal radiation therapy. Here, one’s cancer doctor can put radioactive sources inside the body or near the tumor area. Following that, an oncologist may leave radiation therapy in the body for its work. Furthermore, a doctor may use this treatment after checking out the type of cancer. But, one’s internal radiation left inside the left doesn’t remain radioactive for too long.
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External Radiation
Here, a cancer doctor uses a machine having high-energy rays for placing outside the body. Besides that, a person may receive external radiation for several weeks or twice a day for many weeks. After all, a cancer patient need not follow any precautionary measures after receiving this radiation.
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Systematic Radiation
A cancer patient can be given radioactive drugs by the mouth or can be put into a vein for treating several cancer types. Moving on, an individual’s drugs containing radiation therapy may travel all around the body. Eventually, a patient needs to follow certain precautionary measures after receiving systematic radiation.
So, doctors may look into the location of the tumor before administering radiation therapy. Many times, an oncologist may use more than one type of radiation therapy for certain cancers.
What are the side effects of Radiation Therapy?
A few factors that are taken into consideration before giving Radiation Therapy may include:
- Patient’s general health conditions
- Location of the tumor
- Cancer Type
- The size of the tumor
- The closeness of tumors to other tissues
- Various other treatments that you’re receiving
Are there any side effects of Radiation Therapy?
People should understand that radiation therapy aims to slow down cancer’s growth. But, one’s healthy cells can be impacted with the use of radiation therapy.
Few risks associated with Radiation Therapy may include the following:
- Skin changes
- Fatigue
- Blurry Vision
- Headache
- Hair Loss
- Concentration Problems
- Nausea and Vomiting
What are the other treatment options available for cancer?
Multiple options are available for effectively treating cancer. Here, a doctor’s use of radiation therapy for cancer treatment has its significance. But, one’s cancer treatment can be confirmed after taking several factors into consideration.
Few other treatment options available for cancer may include the following:
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Surgery
An individual must know that surgical intervention is used for cancers contained in a single area. Here, the cancer doctor may remove a considerable part of the tumor with this means. However, an oncologist may use surgery for attaining cancer in its early stage only.
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Chemotherapy
People need to know that chemotherapy is the use of powerful chemicals in the destruction of cancer cells. Following that, an individual’s multiplication of cancer cells can be addressed with the use of chemotherapy. Here, one must be aware of different types of chemotherapy as well.
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Immunotherapy
A cancer specialist may use substances made inside the body for boosting one’s immune system. An individual’s body recognizes cancer cells by itself for their destruction. Ultimately, a doctor can treat various kinds of cancer with its use.
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Targeted Therapy
One’s doctor target specific genes as well as proteins with the use of immunotherapy. Here, a person’s tissue environment containing cancer cells can be affected largely
Therefore, people may go through numerous treatment options for alleviating cancer cells. But, a doctor performs a series of diagnostic tests before planning for adequate treatment means. Eventually, a patient’s tolerance to that treatment option is also taken into consideration.
Conclusion:
People must understand that radiation therapy can effectively treat cancer. Here, a person should go for various diagnostic tests before going for this treatment. Still, an individual needs to know about the complications that can come up with radiation therapy. Following that, an oncologist may use several other treatment means for attaining cancer cells. So, one may talk to the doctors regarding radiation therapy.
Also Know: What are the leading causes of cancer?
