Radiation is a form of energy powerful posed by radio-active materials, such as cobalt, or by special equipment, such as atomic particle accelerators (linear).
Radiation mainly kills cells that divide quickly and are difficult to repair their DNA (nuclear materials). Cancer cells divide more often than normal cells and are often not able to repair the damage that occurs due to radiation. Therefore, cancer cells are more likely to be killed by radiation than normal cells. However, cancer cells vary in how easy it is to be killed by radiation; some cells are immune and cannot be effectively treated with radiation.
The Type of Radiation Therapy
In the most common form of radiation therapy using light, out on the gamma radiation produced by a linear accelerator. Rarely, radiation light electron and proton is used. Radiation of light proton, which can be focused on specific areas, is very effective in treating certain cancers in the area damaged in normal tissue are important such as; eye, brain, or spinal cord. All types of light radiation are focused on specific areas outside or organs of the body containing cancer. To avoid the normal network hit too much light, some of the light used and network that surrounds it are protected as much as possible. New technology on the outside light radiation, called radiation therapy (IMRT) the intensity of the module.
Radiation therapy is given as a series of light outside of the Division of a balanced dose exceeded a long time. This method increases the deadly effects of radiation on cancer cells on when reducing the effect of the poison on normal cells. The effect of the poison is reduced because normal cells can repair it rapidly between doses where cancer cells cannot. In particular, a man received a dose of radiation each day over a period of 6 to 8 weeks. To ensure that in the same area treated every time, the person is appropriately positioned using the pads of foam or other tools.
On how radiation therapy, radioactive material is injected into the vessels likely to streamed toward cancer (for example, radioactive iodine, which is used in healing on thyroid cancer). Another way of using small pellets (seeds) of radioactive material which is placed directly into the cancer (for example, radioactive palladium used for prostate cancer). This produces great planting of radiation on cancer, but a little bit of radiation to the surrounding tissue. Planting containing short-lived radioactive materials that stop producing radiation after a period of time.
Recently the radioactive material is mixed with a protein called monoclonal antibody, capable of finding cancer cells and fused with them. Radioactive materials are combined into the nucleus antibodies in cancer cells and destroy them.
The Use Of
Radiation therapy plays an important role in curing a wide range of cancer, including lymphoma, Lymphoma Non-Hodgkin's early stages, squamous cell cancer on the head and neck, seminoma (cancer of the testicles), prostate cancer, breast cancer, some form of early stage lung cancer cells in non-small pipe air (larynx) and the prostate, the rate of healing is important with radiation therapy so with operation. Sometimes, radiation therapy combined with other forms of cures. Certain types of chemotherapy drugs on, such as cisplatin, improve the effectiveness of radiation therapy, and medicine is possible given the treatment of radiation.
Radiation therapy can reduce symptoms when not likely recover, just as for bone metastases in tumor and multiple myeloma are very painful in lung cancer, throat, head and neck, and stomach cancer. With the sinking of the tumor while, radiation therapy may relieve symptoms caused by the spread of cancer to the bone, or brain.
Side Effects
Treatment for radiation unfortunately can damage normal tissue around the tumor. Side effects depending on how wide the area to be treated, what dose will be given, and how closely the tumor is sensitive to the network. Network of sensitive i.e. normal cells divide as rapidly; skin, bone marrow, hair follicles, coating on the mouth, throat, and intestinal. Radiation can also damage the ovaries and testicles. The doctor is attempting to measuring the goal of radiation therapy to prevent excessive damage on normal cells.
Symptoms depend on the area that receives radiation and can include fatigue, painful mouth, skin problems (redness, itching, flaking), pain when swallowing, inflammation of the lungs (pneumonitis), hepatitis, gastric problems (nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhea), issues pissing (increasing the frequency of the burning when pissing), and low blood count. Radiation on the tumor of the head and neck often cause damage on the surface of the skin as well as on a layer of the mouth and throat. The doctor attempts to identify and treat some symptoms as quickly as possible so that the person is still feel comfortable and can continue treatment.
