Many people think of cancer radiation therapy as a scary and undetermined type of treatment that they have to face at some time in their lives. People who are dealing with a carcinoma get this type of procedure to reduce the tumors. More than half of cancer patients will have some type of this treatment. Sometimes, this is the only type needed to cure the disease. These are the same types of rays used in an x-ray machine, except in much higher proportions. The treatment can come in two different forms. The first is external beams when a machine outside the body aims the beams at the infected area. The second is internal when the material is put inside the body near where the cells are growing. Intensity modulated radiation therapy is an advanced method of high-precision radiotherapy that uses computers to control the x-rays so that the dose is precise and directed to the specific tumor. This is a treatment for carcinoma that uses high doses of radiation to kill abnormal cells and stop them from spreading to other parts of the body. Some people get both types of treatments.
Cancer radiation therapy has two purposes: It treats the disease and reduces the symptoms of the disease. Sometimes, the disease cannot be cured, but the tumors can be reduced while radiated with these beams. This can relieve pain or prevent problems such as blindness, loss of bowel or bladder control, or other results of the condition. The high doses from the x-rays kill or slows the growth of the abnormal cells. Sometimes it takes weeks for the cells to die, and then they keep dying for weeks or months after the treatment ends. The problem with this procedure is that the radiotherapy not only kills the sick cells, but also healthy ones. Therefore, the doctor will try to protect the parts of the body not affected by the disease. This includes using a low a dose as possible or spreading out the dosage over time, such as once a day for several weeks. Normal cells can recover in this time, but affected cells cannot. Another procedure is to aim the beams only at the part of the body that needs it. This is where intensity modulated radiation therapy helps the patient avoid needless side effects. The treatment itself does not hurt, but the side effects can cause pain. Sometimes, a doctor can give certain drugs that will protect vulnerable parts of the body.
Cancer radiation therapy can be used before, during, or after surgery. Before surgery, the doctor may use the radiotherapy to shrink the tumor so that it is easier to remove. After surgery, the radiotherapy is used to kill any abnormal cells. This may also be used in coordination with chemotherapy. The treatment can shrink the tumors so that the chemotherapy works better. Or the reverse can be true. A team of healthcare professionals will put together a plan that will be the best for the disease at the stage it is found. A doctor who deals with carcinoma is called an oncologist. He will prescribe help to deal with side effects and follow-up to make sure that the disease does not return. When intensity modulated radiation therapy is prescribed, the treatment will use 3-D computed tomography images to determine the dosage to use to radiate the tumor. This helps protect the patient from extra dosages that may be used with other types of machines. The side effects will be different for each person. That's why it's so important to keep open communication with the healthcare team and to report any problems that may arise as soon as possible. If the treatment is used with chemotherapy, the side effects may be more severe. The healthcare team will plan ways to manage these problems as they come up.
Some of the side effects of cancer radiation therapy are skin changes and fatigue. Some of the side effects depend on what part of the body is affected by the carcinoma. Other problems may include skin dryness, itching, peeling, and blistering. This is from the skin cells that have been damaged by the beams. Patients learn how to take special care of their skin during this time. Other side effects are diarrhea, hair loss in the area where the rays is beamed, mouth problems, nausea and vomiting, swelling, trouble swallowing, and urinary and bladder problems. Usually, these symptoms will often go away a few months after the treatment starts. Sometimes, the treatment is used on parts of the body on affected by the disease to prevent cells from growing in this area. It is called prophylactic technique. Other times, intensity modulated radiation therapy is used to reduce pain from disease that has spread to the bones or other parts of the body. This is called palliative technique. These procedures can be very scary and difficult for patients because they may be dealing with life and death consequences. But we can have peace in the midst of even these times. Isaiah writes, "Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him," (Isaiah 43:7). Studies have shown that a patient's spiritual and emotional health will affect how his body reacts to any procedures done to help cure the sickness. Therefore, it is important to take care of these parts of life, to give the body more resilience and bounce-back healing power.
Cancer radiation therapy has two purposes: It treats the disease and reduces the symptoms of the disease. Sometimes, the disease cannot be cured, but the tumors can be reduced while radiated with these beams. This can relieve pain or prevent problems such as blindness, loss of bowel or bladder control, or other results of the condition. The high doses from the x-rays kill or slows the growth of the abnormal cells. Sometimes it takes weeks for the cells to die, and then they keep dying for weeks or months after the treatment ends. The problem with this procedure is that the radiotherapy not only kills the sick cells, but also healthy ones. Therefore, the doctor will try to protect the parts of the body not affected by the disease. This includes using a low a dose as possible or spreading out the dosage over time, such as once a day for several weeks. Normal cells can recover in this time, but affected cells cannot. Another procedure is to aim the beams only at the part of the body that needs it. This is where intensity modulated radiation therapy helps the patient avoid needless side effects. The treatment itself does not hurt, but the side effects can cause pain. Sometimes, a doctor can give certain drugs that will protect vulnerable parts of the body.
Cancer radiation therapy can be used before, during, or after surgery. Before surgery, the doctor may use the radiotherapy to shrink the tumor so that it is easier to remove. After surgery, the radiotherapy is used to kill any abnormal cells. This may also be used in coordination with chemotherapy. The treatment can shrink the tumors so that the chemotherapy works better. Or the reverse can be true. A team of healthcare professionals will put together a plan that will be the best for the disease at the stage it is found. A doctor who deals with carcinoma is called an oncologist. He will prescribe help to deal with side effects and follow-up to make sure that the disease does not return. When intensity modulated radiation therapy is prescribed, the treatment will use 3-D computed tomography images to determine the dosage to use to radiate the tumor. This helps protect the patient from extra dosages that may be used with other types of machines. The side effects will be different for each person. That's why it's so important to keep open communication with the healthcare team and to report any problems that may arise as soon as possible. If the treatment is used with chemotherapy, the side effects may be more severe. The healthcare team will plan ways to manage these problems as they come up.
Some of the side effects of cancer radiation therapy are skin changes and fatigue. Some of the side effects depend on what part of the body is affected by the carcinoma. Other problems may include skin dryness, itching, peeling, and blistering. This is from the skin cells that have been damaged by the beams. Patients learn how to take special care of their skin during this time. Other side effects are diarrhea, hair loss in the area where the rays is beamed, mouth problems, nausea and vomiting, swelling, trouble swallowing, and urinary and bladder problems. Usually, these symptoms will often go away a few months after the treatment starts. Sometimes, the treatment is used on parts of the body on affected by the disease to prevent cells from growing in this area. It is called prophylactic technique. Other times, intensity modulated radiation therapy is used to reduce pain from disease that has spread to the bones or other parts of the body. This is called palliative technique. These procedures can be very scary and difficult for patients because they may be dealing with life and death consequences. But we can have peace in the midst of even these times. Isaiah writes, "Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him," (Isaiah 43:7). Studies have shown that a patient's spiritual and emotional health will affect how his body reacts to any procedures done to help cure the sickness. Therefore, it is important to take care of these parts of life, to give the body more resilience and bounce-back healing power.
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