For some people dealing with cancer, the doctor might suggest radiation therapy (or radiotherapy). This treatment is common among people diagnosed with cancer. Essentially, radiotherapy helps to shrink cancer tumors by killing cancer cells.
Primarily, the therapy includes high doses of radiation. Sometimes it is highly effective in killing cancer cells. However, in other cases, it has many potential risks and side effects for the patient. Meanwhile, in some cases, this treatment might be the only option to tackle the disease.
Therefore, read on to get a better idea of how radiation therapy works. Apart from that, you will also learn about its benefits and side effects.
What is Radiation Therapy? – A Basic Overview
Essentially, radiation therapy utilizes high-energy waves or particles to kill the cancer cells in your body. This way, it reduces tumors to a significant extent.
In general, cells grow and reproduce to replace old cells and generate new ones. Meanwhile, cancer cells do the same, but at a rapid rate. In fact, it does not have the control that normal cells have.
Hence, in radiation therapy, the radiation (which includes high-energy particles) kills cancer cells. This way, it damages the DNA of the cells. Hence, the cancer cell growth and division do not happen anymore.
In addition to that, radiation is also a localized form of therapy. This is because the high-energy beams target the cancer directly. Meanwhile, the doctors/therapists also ensure that they avoid killing as many healthy cells as possible. This shows there are also Radiotherapy side effects.
However, one limitation of radiation therapy is that it does not help to treat cancers that spread to other places in the body. Basically, it treats cancer when it is present in a particular area of the body. Hence, this therapy is helpful when the cancer is in its early stages.
How Does Radiation Therapy Work?
The following are the ways through which radiation therapy works to kill cancer cells:
- The high-energy waves target the cancer cells. This way, it stops the cell’s internal functions. As a result, those cells eventually die.
- In general, cancer cells form tumors. Hence, when cancer cells die, the tumors shrink.
- Those high-energy radiations interact with the DNA and other target molecules. This process is called abortive mitosis. Hence, tissues that divide faster absorb more damage from radiation.
- Meanwhile, normal tissues take the place of cells that die due to radiation therapy. This way, it accelerates the division of the remaining cells.
- After the radiation therapy, the tumor cells do not divide as fast anymore. Hence, they decrease in size. However, how much the tumor might shrink depends on the balance between cell death and cell production.
Different Types of Radiation Therapy
The following are the two major types of radiation therapy you must know about:
1. External Beam Radiation Therapy
In this case, a large radiation machine emits beams from outside your body. It aims at the cancer tumor from a particular angle. Basically, it sends radiation, particularly to the area where you have cancer. The best thing about it is that it does not make you radioactive. Hence, you will be able to spend time around others.
2. Internal Radiation therapy
In this case, radiation (either solid or liquid) is placed inside your body. Essentially, the doctors put radiation inside your body in the following ways:
a) Brachytherapy
In this therapy, you have to swallow the radioactive solid (capsule or an implant). During the therapy, the doctors put the solid inside you with the help of a small tube (catheter) or an applicator. This type of therapy is helpful in treating the following types of cancer:
- Head cancer
- Eye Cancer
- Breast cancer
- Cervix cancer
- Endometrial cancer
- Prostrate cancer
b) Systemic Therapy
You will have to take an injection of liquid radioactive iodine. This travels through your body and kills cancer cells. Primarily, it helps to treat thyroid cancer.
Some Side Effects of Radiation Therapy
Obviously, radiation therapy affects many healthy cells in your body apart from the cancer cells. As a result, it might cause side effects. Basically, some might appear during treatment and will go away later. Meanwhile, some side effects might last for even years.
The following are some side effects that might happen due to radiation therapy:
- Temporary Hair Loss
- Fertility Problems
- Fatigue
- Skin Changes
- Blurry Vision
- Headache
- Swelling
- Nausea (and vomiting)
- Urinary issues, and more.
Wrapping Up
You might go through radiation therapy only after your doctor recommends it to diagnose your cancer. There are both benefits and side effects of this treatment.
However, it is important to get a broad idea of the side effects of radiation therapy. In fact, if you face the above side effects, you must talk to your doctor. This way, they will be able to take the necessary steps to deal with those symptoms.
