How is radiation therapy used to treat cancer?
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Discovery Health answered:Doctors treat cancer in a variety of ways including surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.
Radiation therapy (also know as radiotherapy, cobalt therapy, X-ray therapy or irradiation) fights cancer because it can destroy cancer cells more easily than normal cells. Typically, radiotherapy is delivered with an external beam of gamma rays, x-rays or alpha and beta particles directed at the cancerous tumor. Radioactive wires or pellets can be used internally. They are put inside a tiny container and implanted in the body near the tumor. Sometimes, both internal and external radiation is used.Radiation therapy is commonly used to treat early Hodgkin's lymphoma, certain cancers of the lung, bladder cancer, prostate cancer and other tumors. Radiation therapy is commonly used with other therapies, including chemotherapy and surgery. For instance, radiation therapy may shrink a tumor to make surgery easier or, it may be used after surgery to prevent a tumor from reforming. Sometimes, radiation therapy is used alone, especially if a particular tumor is more susceptible to radiation. Radiation also might be used alone when surgery to the specific area is too risky. Even when a cure is highly unlikely, radiation can help shrink a tumor to provide relief from symptoms that come from a tumor's growth.
Doctors treat cancer in a variety of ways including surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Radiation therapy (also know as radiotherapy, cobalt therapy, X-ray therapy or irradiation) fights cancer because it can destroy cancer cells more easily than... More -
Riverside Cancer Care Center answered:The goal of radiation is to destroy or damage cancer cells in the area being treated while doing as little harm as possible to surrounding, healthy tissue. There are different types of radiation therapy or treatment and different ways to deliver it to the tumor site. These differences are based on the type of cancer, how deeply the beams of radiation need to penetrate, and for how long.
There are two basic forms, external beam radiation and internal beam radiation. External beam radiation enters the body from equipment positioned outside. Internal beam radiation (also called brachytherapy) is less common and consists of placing the radiation source inside the body. For prostate cancer, this treatment is done by placing radioactive “seeds” inside the prostate to directly treat the tumor site. Forms of brachytherapy are also used for some breast cancer patients using the Mammosite technology and for a number of other cancer diagnoses. Some form of radiation therapy is used by about half of cancer patients, either with other treatments or alone.
The goal of radiation is to destroy or damage cancer cells in the area being treated while doing as little harm as possible to surrounding, healthy tissue. There are different types of radiation therapy or treatment and different ways to deliver... More -
Dr. Nimesh Nagarsheth of The Mount Sinai Medical Center answered:There are two basic kinds of radiation therapy. External beam uses high-energy radiation to target a specific area, and brachytherapy uses radioactive materials placed near the tumor. Both kinds of radiation are used to treat cancers throughout the human body. These treatments serve to shrink tumors and eliminate cancer cells. Radiation therapy is associated with several potential side effects depending on which part of the body it is prescribed for, and depending on the goal of treatment. Please ask your radiation oncologist for a review of the risks and benefits of radiation therapy as it pertains to your specific case before starting any treatment.
There are two basic kinds of radiation therapy. External beam uses high-energy radiation to target a specific area, and brachytherapy uses radioactive materials placed near the tumor. Both kinds of radiation are used to treat cancers... More -
Intermountain Healthcare answered:Because radiation can destroy cancer cells, external beam radiation therapy may be used to:
- Remove cancer
- Ease pain by shrinking a tumor
- Help prevent cancer from coming back
- Help other cancer treatments work better
Because radiation can destroy cancer cells, external beam radiation therapy may be used to: Remove cancer Ease pain by shrinking a tumor Help prevent cancer from coming back Help other cancer treatments work better Radiation is often combined with... More
