Radiation Oncology the Basics Radiation

Radiation Oncology

The Basics

Radiation oncology, also known as radiation treatment or radiotherapy, uses targeted doses of radiation to destroy cancer cells

It is now the most common treatment for most types of cancer, but is not appropriate for all types and cases

Though serious cost factors and side effects must be considered, radiation therapy is often the most effective, affordable, and least damaging treatment available

Radiation therapy is also one of the oldest medically proven methods for combating cancer

Origins & History of Radiation Therapy

rays were discovered in Germany in 1895 by Wilhelm Conrad Rontgen, and in the same year Emil Grubbe made the first therapeutic use trying to treat a relapsed breast carcinoma in Chicago

In 1896, X-rays were used to treat stomach cancer in France and a skin tumor on a four-year-old child in Austria, though the first real proof of a cure by this process did not appear until 1899

Radium was discovered by the Curies in 1898, and was used in a treatment known as "brachytherapy" for skin cancer in 1901

Ernest Rutherford's 1915 model of the atom explaining radioactive disintegration led to the development of radiation tubes

III. Origin & History of Radiation Therapy: Part Two

1934 saw two major advancements in radiation therapy: the discovery of artificial radio-elements by Irene and Frederic Joliot-Curie (daughter and son-in-law of Mari and Pierre), and the publication of a 23% cure rate in head and neck cancers using X-rays by Dr. Henri Coutard

In 1951, the first cobalt installation was made in Victoria Hospital in London, Ontario, and a year later the first linear accelerator was installed in Stanford

In 1990, scanners and computers were utilized for Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy, which improved the efficacy and reduced the severity of side effects produced by the treatment by allowing for finer control of radiation levels and foci

By the year 2000, half of all recovering cancer patients had been treated at least partially with radiation therapy, making it the most widely used and most effective cancer treatment

External Radiotherapy: An Overview

X-rays are taken to determine the precise location of tumors to be treated in radiotherapy

Tattoos are often inked on the skin to mark the edge of the radiation filed, and blocks can be used to protect healthy tissue from the destruction of the radiation

A radiation beam -- now aimed and controlled by computer -- is focused on the target area. This is usually repeated daily for several weeks.

Internal Radiotherapy: An Overview

Also known as brachytherapy, and generally more fraught with complications, internal radiotherapy can be recommended in some cases, especially when a surgery failed to completely remove the cancer and left still active remnants of a tumor

A small source of radiation is placed inside a protective container and inserted as near as possible to the tumor, usually at the incision site when a surgery was performed

Generally more destructive of surrounding healthy tissue, dosages of radiation are also lower. This technique is not as effective as a primary method of treating cancer

Side Effects of Radiotherapy

Fatigue, changes to the skin, and loss of appetite are all common side effects of radiation treatments. For treatments in the head and neck region, saliva production is also often inhibited, exacerbating appetite issues

Loss of appetite also contributes to fatigue, and doctors recommend eating small meals more frequently as well as taking frequent short naps as a way of maintaining adequate energy and strength

Skin problems often resemble deep tans or sunburns, and have similar root causes (i.e. radiation). Special lotions are available to soothe and protect the skin after radiation therapy

The Cost of Radiotherapy

The cost of radiation therapy can be quite high, depending on the number and frequency of treatment sessions needed as well as the duration of these treatments

The equipment used in radiotherapy as well as the large amount of specialized training to practice radiation oncology are the major contributive factors to the cost of the treatment