INFORMATION ON RADIOTHERAPY

Radiotherapy is the use of x-rays and similar rays (such as electrons) to destroy the cancer cells so they cannot multiply.

Many people who are suffering from cancer will have radiotherapy as part of their treatment. The treatment can be given either as external radiotherapy from outside the body using x-rays or from within the body as internal radiotherapy.

The chances of a cancer can be reduced by radiotherapy treatment. Radiotherapy is a painless cancer treatment and is used in more than half of all cancer cases.

HOW RADIATION THERAPY WORK?

Radiotherapy destroys the cancer cells in the treated area. High-energy radiation are given as to kill the cells by damaging their DNA and stop them to grow and increase in number. In radiotherapy normal cells are also destroyed with the cancer cells but they are able to repair themselves. As normal cells grow slowly so radiations are often given in small doses. In some cases, radiotherapy treatment is used in conjunction with surgery, chemotherapy, or both.

Like all forms of cancer treatment, radiation therapy can have side effects .Treatment to higher doses causes variable side effects during treatment. Side effects vary depending on upon the person and the area of the body being treated. Some people have only mild side effects while others can have more severe side effects. Some of the common side effects includes hair loss in the treated area, skin dryness. The person can feel tired and sick with the radiotherapy treatment.