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Cancer Radiation: A Treatment You Can Live With

Radiation therapy is a cancer treatment that is used to shrink tumors and stop the growth of cancer cells. More than half of all cancer patients are treated with radiation.  

 

Cancer causes cells to grow abnormally and out of control.  When Radiation is used to treat the cancer, high-energy X-rays are directed at the patients' body to kill cancer cells and keep them from growing and multiplying.  This treatment delivers a higher does of radiation so that the radiation will  kill cancer cells and shrink tumors.  It sounds painful but it is actually painless.  However, while the

radiation treatment is killing the cancer cells, it can also damange the normal cells. Precautions will be taken by doctors to protect a person's healthy cells when they're given radiation treatments.

 

Doctors may prescribe radiation as the only form of treatment. Alternatively, a combination of radiation therapy and chemotherapy might be used. People may even have surgery to remove tumors or cancer cells first and then have radiation therapy. The situation and treatment vary form patient to patient.  The doctor will discuss treatments with the patient upon diagnosis.

 

A Radiation Oncologist will work with the paitents' other doctors to decide on the type and dose of radiation that will best treat the patient's cancer.  Radiation can be given in two ways: Externally, through the skin, or Internally, through an injection or by implanting a radioactive pellet inside the

body.

 

The Common Side Effects of Radiation Therapy

 

Radiation therapy is painless ,however it is powerful, and people who receive it might have some problems during and after treatment. These side effects differ from person to person and depend upon age, the type of treatment, and where the cancer is located. Some of the common side effects are:

 

·   Fatigue.  This the most common side effect of radiation treatment, which is witnessed both during and after treatment.  The patient may feel tired and weak.

 

·   Skin damage or changes.  The skin around the treatment area may become red, sensitive, or easily irritated. The skin may swell or droop or texture changes may occur.

 

·   Hair loss.  People receiving radiation therapy to the head and neck can lose their hair. 

 

·   Sore mouth and tooth decay.  If you received radiation therapy to the head and neck, your mouth may be sore and sensitive and you can even get more cavities.

 

·   Stomach and digestive problems.  On receiving radiation treatment to the pelvis or abdomen, the patient may feel sick to the stomach, have a loss of apetite, experience diarrhea, nausea or throw up after radiation treatment. 

 

·      Blood changes. It is possible that during Radiation therapy, the germ-fighting cells in the blood get killed. This may make it harder for a person's body to fight off infection and may increase the need for blood transfusions.

 

It is very important to tell a nurse or doctor about any side effects so that they can treat the problem. Once you've finished radiation treatment, it is important to visit the doctor for follow-up appointments. Side effects aside, the good news about radiation therapy is that it can be an effective cancer fighter which enables many people to go on to live healthy, full lives.

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