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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Radiation Therapy |
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Below are answers to our most commonly asked questions.
What is radiation therapy?Radiation is a special kind of energy carried by waves or a stream of particles. It can come from special machines or from radioactive substances. When radiation is used at high doses (many times those used for x-ray exams), it can treat cancer and other illnesses. Special equipment is used to aim the radiation at tumors or areas of the body where there is disease. The use of high-energy rays or particles to treat disease is called radiation therapy. Sometimes it's called radiotherapy, x-ray therapy, electron beam therapy, or irradiation. Your radiation therapy program is designed specifically for you. Therefore, your treatment may be different from that of other patients with the same type of cancer. Who is involved with my treatment?The Radiation Therapy TeamDuring your radiation therapy, these radiation therapy team members work together to plan the best treatment program for you.
A radiation oncologist is a physician trained in treating cancer using radiation therapy. Your radiation oncologist decides if radiation therapy will help you and then plans the type of treatment you will receive. After you start therapy, your radiation oncologist will follow your progress and may change your radiation treatment plan if needed. You will meet with your radiation oncologist each week during your therapy. A radiation therapist gives you the radiation treatment prescribed by your radiation oncologist. During each treatment, the therapist will position you correctly, and then carefully direct radiation to your tumor. Radiation therapists can help answer any questions you may have during your treatment. Working under the direction of your radiation oncologist and a physicist, the dosimetrist helps plan your radiation treatments. Using a computer, the dosimetrist plans the best way to deliver radiation to your tumor while minimizing radiation to nearby healthy tissues. The dosimetrist calculates the direction of the radiation beam, the amount of radiation needed, and the number of treatments required, and helps determine the type of equipment to be used. The nurse helps you with any concerns you may have during your radiation treatments. Your nurse will explain the treatment process and will be available to talk with you anytime. The radiation physicist provides data used to plan your treatment. Frequently, the radiation oncologist, dosimetrist, and physicist will work together to plan your treatment. The physicist may make special measurements related to your treatment. The physicist also makes sure the treatment machines are operating safely, accurately, and consistently. The receptionist checks you in for appointments and may give you other appointments requested by your radiation oncologist or nurse. Please let the receptionist know if you have an insurance, address, or telephone number change. If you wish to talk to a social worker, dietitian, chaplain, or credit counselor anytime during your treatment, tell your nurse. Does radiation therapy hurt?Receiving external radiation treatments is painless, just like having a x-ray taken. There is no heat, light, or sound associated with the treatment. You are able to breathe normally during treatment. How much does radiation therapy cost?Treatment of cancer with radiation can be costly. It requires very complex equipment and the services of many healthcare professionals. The exact cost of radiation therapy will depend on the type and number of treatments needed. Most health insurance policies cover charges for radiation therapy. Community CancerCare is a not-for-profit institution and we treat patients who qualify for financial aid. What percentage of cancer patients receive radiation therapy?Approximately 60% of cancer patients receive radiation therapy. Radiation therapy may be prescribed as the only treatment for the patient, or it may be prescribed in combination with surgery and/or chemotherapy. Why do some people need radiation therapy and not others?After a diagnosis of cancer, a doctor will consider several factors in determining the course of treatment that will be most successful for a particular patient. These factors include the type of tumor, site of origin and the stage and grade of disease. These factors affect the likelihood of a particular therapy slowing down or stopping the disease process. In some cases, only one specific therapy may be appropriate. Will I become radioactive?External radiation therapy does not cause your body to become radioactive. How long does a typical treatment take?Radiation therapy treatment course is usually 5 days a week for 2 to 8 weeks. For each external beam radiation treatment session, the patient will be in the treatment room about 8-12 minutes, but will be getting the dose of radiation for only about one minute of that time. The length of treatment courses and the radiation doses have been established through extensive clinical trials. Modification of this time-dose may be necessary if problems arise because of complications with the cancer itself, the side effects of radiation, or a person's general physical condition. What are some of the cancers treated by radiation therapy?Skin, head and neck, throat, larynx, breast, brain, prostate, colo-rectal, lung, bone, leukemia, among others. What about side effects?Side effects of radiation therapy are related to the area that is being treated. Many patients do not experience any side effects. Most side effects that occur during radiation therapy are not serious and can be controlled with medication or diet and usually disappear within a few weeks after treatment ends. The most common side effects are fatigue and temporary skin sensitivity. I thought radiation caused cancer?Overexposure to radiation can cause cancer in some instances, but for the treatment of cancer, therapeutic radiation is used. Therapeutic radiation uses very limited and targeted amounts of radiation. What is palliation?Palliation is the use of treatment to relieve, rather than cure, symptoms caused by cancer. Palliative care can help people live more comfortably. |
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