“Radiation Oncology


Radiation therapy uses high-energy radiation to kill or shrink cancer cells. Charged particles, x-rays and gamma rays are radiations used for killing the cancer cells. The radiation therapy can be given through an external beam, (using a machine called a linear accelerator) or internally (brachytherapy). Basically, in a systemic radiation therapy the radiation travels via the bloodstream to kill the cancer cells.


Radiation Oncologists start the design for each patient’s complete, personalized treatment plan with a simulation. The simulation begins by using detailed imaging scans to determine the location, size, and shape of the tumor in the body. Depending upon a host of factors, your doctor may choose from a variety of imaging options including: Computer Tomography (CT), Positron Emission Tomography (PET), PET/CT, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), or ultrasound.


Here are the major types of radiation therapies


Internal Radiation (Brachytherapy) : The delivery of this radiation is done through radiation sources that are either placed on the body or inside the body. There are different Brachytherapy techniques that are used for treating cancer. The melanoma in the eye can be treated with the help of Episcleral Brachytherapy that makes use of a source attached to the eye. A source is placed close to a tumor either inside the body cavity or in a surgical cavity in the case of Intracavitary Brachytherapy. The placement of a radiation source is done inside the tumor tissue in the case of Interstitial Brachytherapy.


Brachytherapy can cause less damage to the nearby normal tissues and can be given either as a high-dose or a low-dose treatment –


The delivery tubes are attached with a robotic machine that are placed within the body guides one or more radioactive sources near or into a tumor in the case of high-dose treatment. The removal of these sources is then done at the end of every treatment session. More than one treatment sessions can be used in the case of high-dose treatment. MammoSite system is the best example of a high-dose treatment that is used for treating breast cancer for those patients who have gone through breast-conserving surgery.
A continuous low-dose radiation is given to the cancer cells through a source that may take some days in the case of low-dose treatment.

External-Beam Radiation Therapy : The delivery of this therapy is primarily done in the form of photon beams. A photon can be considered as a collection of energy and is a unit of light along with different forms of electromagnetic radiation. The energy of a photon also may vary. The total radiation dose is the determining factor of external beam radiation treatment. 3-Dimensional Conformal Radiation Therapy (3D-CRT) is considered as the most common type of external beam radiation. The radiation is delivered precisely by concentrating on the affected areas by using advanced treatment machines and computer software.

External beam radiation other methods for treating cancer include –


Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) : Few treatment sessions are required for delivering radiation therapy by using high doses and small radiation fields. This therapy helps in treating those tumors that lie outside the spinal cord and brain. More than one dose is used in this therapy for treating isolated and small tumors such as lung and liver cancers. Cyberknife radio surgery is a type of stereotactic body radiation therapy that is considered as a non-invasive alternative to surgery. Cyberknife can treat tumors located anywhere in the body with precise accuracy. There is minimum damage caused to the surrounding healthy tissues and structures including optic nerve or spinal cord.
Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) : This therapy makes use of a number of small radiation beam-shaping devices known as collimators for delivering a single dose of radiation. The intensity of the radiation beams can be changed at the time of treatment sessions by either moving the collimators or by keeping them stationary. IMRT involves inverse treatment planning that delivers radiation doses to surrounding tissue and to different areas of the tumor. The required number of angles and beams of the radiation treatment is calculated by high-powered computer program. The ultimate goal is to raise the radiation dose to the different areas and thereby reducing the radiation exposure to certain sensitive areas of nearby normal tissue.
Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) : More than one high doses of radiation can be delivered to a tiny tumor in this method. This method makes use of extreme accurate image-guided patient positioning and tumor targeting. SRS is commonly used for treating brain metastases, spinal or brain tumors from other types of cancer. The high dose can only be delivered accurately by using other devices or a head frame for immobilizing the patient at the time of treatment. The stereotactic radiosurgery can be best delivered by using the latest tool known as the Novalis TX. This technology helps to focus precisely and delivers high doses of tumor for destroying the tumor. It also results in minimally damage to the nearby tissue and can be performed faster along with other machines.
Tomotherapy: This is considered as a type of image-guided IMRT. The machine used by tomotherapy is a combination of external-beam radiation therapy and a CT imaging scanner machine. This tomotherapy machine can be easily rotated around the patient and delivers radiation for both treatment and imaging. The precise treatment can be given as this machine captures CT images of a patient just before the beginning of the treatment.
Proton Therapy : Both Photon beams and proton beams can deliver external beam radiation therapy. The main difference between the two is terms of the deposition of energy in the living tissue. High-doses of radiation can be delivered to a tumor by using protons that may help in reducing the exposure of normal tissue to radiation.
Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT) : A number of imaging scans such as PET, CT or MRI are performed at the time of treatment. These imaging tests help to recognize changes of the location and size of a tumor. It also provides proper adjustment of the planned radiation dose during treatment. The accuracy of radiation treatment can be increased by providing continuous imaging and it may also decrease the amount of total radiation dose to a normal tissue.

There are multiple factors that are considered by the medical team before prescribing radiation therapy

»

Type, size and location of cancer

»

Proximity of cancer to the normal tissues

»

Medical and general health history of the patient

»

Impact of the radiation traveling to the cancer effected body part

»

Types of other treatments with radiation



Side Effects


Fatigue – Fatigue, or feeling tired, is the most common side effect of radiation treatment, both during treatment and after. You may feel tired for up to 6 weeks after radiation therapy has ended.
Skin Damage or Changes – The skin around the treatment area may be red, sensitive, or easily irritated in the days, weeks, and months during and after treatment. The skin may swell or droop or the texture may change. (Most symptoms of skin damage are temporary, although a person may get permanent changes in skin tone or texture.)
Hair Loss – People who receive radiation therapy to the head and neck can lose their hair. Usually, their hair will grow back within 3 months after radiation treatment ends.
Sore Mouth and Tooth Decay – If you received radiation therapy to the head and neck, your mouth might be sore and sensitive and you may get more cavities. Your doctor may prescribe a mouth rinse to reduce pain. To help reduce these side effects, see the dentist during radiation therapy.
Stomach and Digestive Problems – If you receive radiation treatment to the pelvis or abdomen, you might feel sick to your stomach, not feel like eating, have diarrhea, or throw up after radiation treatment. Some people who receive radiation therapy to the head and neck can also experience nausea and vomiting.
Blood Changes – Radiation therapy can kill the germ-fighting cells in the blood. This may temporarily make it harder for a person’s body to fight off infection and may increase the need for blood transfusions.”