Radiation therapy is the use of a type of energy, called ionizing radiation, to kill cancer cells and shrink tumours. Radiation therapy uses a machine that directs high energy rays at the cancer site from outside the body. The radiation may be in form of X-Rays, Gamma Rays, Electron beam or particle therapy.
IMAGE GUIDED RADIATION THERAPY (IGRT)
There are two main types of radiation therapy:
External beam radiation treatments – Linear Accelerator (energy X-ray beams generated by a machine are directed at the tumour from a distance outside the body,)
Internal beam radiation treatments – Brachytherapy (a type of radiation therapy used to treat cancer. Brachytherapy involves placing a radioactive material directly inside the body.)
External Beam Radiation Therapy
External beam radiation therapy is the most commonly used method of radiation therapy for the treatment of cancer. This involves focusing a beam of radiation from an external source on a tumour inside the body. This is done through Image Guided Radio Therapy (IGRT)
Linear Accelerator
Linear Accelerator (LINAC) is the device used for external beam radiation treatments for patients with cancer. The Linear Accelerator can also be used in stereo tactic radio surgery (SRS) on targets within the brain. The Linear Accelerator can also be used to treat areas outside the brain. It delivers a uniform dose of high-energy X-ray to the region of the tumour. These X-rays can destroy the cancer cells while sparing the surrounding normal tissues.
What is Image Guided Radiotherapy (IGRT)?
Generally imaging technology used IMRT (Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy) to produce three – dimensional scans of the patient’s anatomy, to identify the exact location of the cancer tumour prior to treatment.
Though IMRT enhanced the capacity of focusing radiation to cancer bearing areas, yet this technology had a drawback. Tumours can move, both during a radiation treatment session and from one treatment session to another as a result of normal internal organ action (digestion, elimination and breathing). This unplanned position of tumour leads it to not receiving full amount of radiation as it should receive, and normal tissues may receive more radiation than they can tolerate.
Image Guided Radiotherapy (IGRT) was introduced as a upgraded technology to overcome this challenge of ensuring the positioning of radiations on the affected area only. IGRT combines a new form of scanning technology, which allows planar of X-ray Volume Imaging with IMRT. This enables physicians to adjust the radiation beam based on the position of the target tumour and critical organs, while the patient is undergoing this process of treatment.
Brachytherapy
Internal Beam Radiation Therapy
Internal beam radiation therapy allows exposure of only those cells which are affected with cancer by inserting a small amount of radioactive substance into the human body. In the case of mammary gland cancer, plastic tubes penetrated with radioactive wires are inserted into the gland. For cervix uteri cancer and uterus cancer, radiation source is inserted into cervix uteri.
Brachytherapy is used to treat cancers throughout the body, including the:
Prostate
Cervix
Head and neck
Breast
Gallbladder
Uterus
Vagina
In temporary brachytherapy, the radioactive material is placed inside or near a tumour for a specific amount of time and then withdrawn. In temporary brachytherapy, a delivery device, such as a catheter, needle or applicator is placed into the tumour using fluoroscopy, ultrasound or CT to help position them. The physician may insert the radioactive material at the same time remotely through the delivery device, and later remove the material and delivery device. Temporary brachytherapy can be administered at a high-dose rate (HDR).
Linear Accelerators (LINAC)
Linear Accelerators (LINAC) is the state-of-the-art equipment used for external beam radiotherapy. The Multileaf Collimator (MLC) with Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT) are the latest developments in accuracy and precision, resulting in optimum radiation.
High Dose Rate Micro Selectron Brachytherapy unit, Computerized 3D treatment planning system for both traditional and inverse planning, and Permanent Isotope Implementation are the other latest developments.
Does radiation therapy have side effects?
Radiation therapy has side effects. The most common ones include:
Fatigue.
Hair loss near the treated area.
Skin darkening in the area exposed to a beam of radiation.
If the cancer being treated is in your abdomen or pelvic area, you may also experience:
Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Loss of appetite.
Painful urination.
Vaginal dryness in women and erection problems in men.
If the cancer being treated is in your chest, you may also experience:
Sore throat.
Pain when you swallow.
Cough.
Shortness of breath.
If the cancer being treated is in your head or neck, you may also experience:
Sore mouth or throat.
Dry mouth.
Thickened skin in the area of the radiation.
How long do side effects last?
Side effects generally go away after the treatment is finished
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