About Radiotherapy :
Radiotherapy is the use of radiation to kill cancer cells.
Radiotherapy Use :
Radiotherapy is used in the early stages of cancer or after it has spread.
• To try to cure the cancer completely (palliative radiotherapy)
• To make other treatments more effective - such as can be combined with chemotherapy or used before surgery (neo-adjuvant radiotherapy)
• To reduce the risk of cancer coming back after surgery. (adjuvant radiotherapy)
• Relieve symptoms if treatment is not possible. (palliative radiotherapy).
Radiotherapy is generally considered the most effective cancer treatment after surgery.
Radiotherapy Types :
• External radiotherapy, during external radiotherapy a machine is used to carefully target a beam of radiation at the cancer.
• Radiotherapy implants (brachytherapy), radiotherapy implants by placing small pieces of radioactive metal inside the body near the cancer.
• Radiotherapy injections (radioisotope therapy), capsules or drinks where you swallow a radioactive liquid, or inject it into your blood.
• Intrabeam radiotherapy Intrabeam radiotherapy delivers radiation directly to the tumor during breast cancer surgery.
Radiotherapy is usually given in the hospital. You can go home soon after external radiotherapy, but you may need to stay in the hospital for a few days if you have radiotherapy implants (brachytherapy) or radioisotope therapy.
Radiotherapy Sideeffects :
As well as killing cancer cells, some healthy cells may be damaged during radiotherapy treatment. Some side effects like -
• Red skin, with pain
• Feeling sick
• Feeling tired
• Hair loss around the treated area
• Loss of appetite
• Diarrhea
• Sore mouth
Many of these side effects can be treated or prevented, and most side effects subside once treatment is stopped.