Radiation therapy has demonstrated its usefulness against numerous cancer types. It employs high-energy particles or waves such as X-rays, gamma rays, electron beams, or protons as weapons against cancer cells.
Every medical oncologist uses this therapy and has proven it essential in fighting challenging cancer cases. Let's learn about what precisely radiation therapy is and the types of cancers that require radiation therapy.
What Is Radiation Therapy?
Radiation therapy is an energy beam used for cancer treatments that uses intense radiation beams such as X-rays to destroy cancerous cells by damaging their DNA. It stops the further replication of cancer cells. Although radiation may harm healthy cells, most can recover after treatments.
Coupled with other cancer therapies, it can bring the best results in the fight against cancer. It may be used alone or alongside other forms of treatment as necessary. However, consulting a medical oncologistis essential for the right therapy.
Here Are The Five Cancers That Need Radiation Therapy
Bone Cancer
Bone cancer is a relatively uncommon form of cancer originating in bone cells. Primary bone cancer differs from secondary cancer by developing directly within bones, while secondary cases develop elsewhere before spreading there.
Radiation therapy may be combined with surgery or chemotherapy treatments when surgery alone does not remove all tumours. Therefore, chemotherapy alone might not always have enough therapeutic impact against advanced tumours.
Brain Tumours
Brain tumours, whether malignant or benign, may pose life threats due to their location within the brain and the potential damage they could do there.
So, radiation therapy - specifically stereotactic radiosurgery - offers hope as an effective method for treatment. This non-invasive procedure uses high doses of radiation directly on tumorous areas while sparing healthy nearby tissues from damage.
Liver Cancer
Liver cancer is a malignant tumour that forms within liver cells. Primary liver cancer occurs exclusively within its tissues, while secondary forms may spread to other body parts and manifest themselves.
Radiation therapy has long been used as an aid in liver cancer care. Recent innovations such as stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) and radioembolization have increased their role by targeting direct doses directly at tumour sites. It does not impact healthy liver tissue nearby.
Lung Cancer
Radiation therapy is also a crucial treatment option in lung cancer treatment. Employing high-energy beams or particles to destroy cancerous cells alleviates symptoms like pain or difficulty breathing in advanced lung cancer cases.
At its heart, radiation therapy plays an essential part in fighting cancer. Radiation is an invaluable breast and lung cancer treatment option with its ability to target and destroy tumour cells quickly and safely.
Breast Cancer
After surgery for breast cancer, radiation therapy is frequently employed as part of treatment to eliminate any remaining cancerous cells. It helps to lower recurrence risk and increase survival prospects.
Shorter courses of radiation can often prove just as safe and effective. In more advanced situations, radiation can destroy cancerous lymph node deposits that harbor tumour cells hidden inside these nodes.
Radiation therapy plays a crucial role in treating various types of cancer. As mentioned before, everything should be done after consulting with your medical oncologist in Siliguri. This therapy includes high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells and shrink tumours.
