Understanding Radiation Therapy

biar kerenan dikit aahhh postig artikel bahasa inggris :p
tapi ,mengandung banyak info loh ;)
cekidot

n  Radiation therapy works by damaging the DNA within cancer cells and destroying their ability to reproduce.

n  When the damaged cancer cells are destroyed by radiation, the body naturally eliminates them.

n  Normal cells can be affected by radiation, but they are able to repair themselves.

n  Sometimes radiation therapy is the only treatment a patient needs.

n  Other times, it is combined with other treatments, like surgery and chemotherapy.

Brief History of Radiation Therapy

n  The first patient was treated with radiation in 1896, two months after the discovery of the X-ray.

n  Back then, both doctors and non-physicians treated cancer patients with radiation.

n  Rapid technology advances began in the early 1950s with cobalt units followed by linear accelerators a few years later.

n  Recent technology advances have made radiation more effective and precise.

Radiation therapy is used two different ways.

n  To cure cancer:

•     Destroy tumors that have not spread to other body parts.

•     Reduce the risk that cancer will return after surgery or chemotherapy.

n  To reduce symptoms:

•     Shrink tumors affecting quality of life, like a lung tumor that is causing shortness of breath.

•     Alleviate pain by reducing the size of a tumor.

Meet the Radiation Oncology Team

n  Radiation Oncologist

•     The doctor who oversees the radiation therapy treatments.

n  Medical Radiation Physicist

•     Ensures that complex treatment plans are properly tailored for each patient.

n  Dosimetrist

•     Works with the radiation oncologist and medical physicist to calculate the proper dose of radiation given to the tumor.

n  Radiation Therapist

•     Administers the daily radiation under the doctor’s prescription and supervision.

n  Radiation Oncology Nurse

•     Cares for the patient and family by providing education, emotional support and tips for managing side effects.

Types of Radiation Therapy

n  Radiation therapy can be delivered two ways – externally and internally.

•     External beam radiation therapy delivers radiation using a linear accelerator.

•     Internal radiation therapy, called brachytherapy or seed implants, involves placing radioactive sources inside the patient.

n  The type of treatment used will depend on the location, size and type of cancer.

Planning Radiation Therapy - Simulation

n  Each treatment is mapped out in detail using treatment planning software.

n  Radiation therapy must be aimed at the same target every time. Paramedics use several devices to do this:

•     Skin markings or tattoos.

•     Immobilization devices – casts, molds, headrests.

External Radiation Therapy

n  Specialized types of external beam radiation therapy

•     Three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT)

n  Uses CT or MRI scans to create a
3-D picture of the tumor.

n  Beams are precisely directed to avoid radiating normal tissue.

•     Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT)

n  A specialized form of 3D-CRT.

n  Radiation is broken into many “beamlets” and the intensity of each can be adjusted individually.

•     Proton Beam Therapy

n  Uses protons rather than X-rays to treat certain types of cancer.

n  Allows doctors to better focus the dose on the tumor with the potential to reduce the dose to nearby healthy tissue.

•     Neutron Beam Therapy

n  A specialized form of radiation therapy that can be used to treat certain tumors that are very difficult to kill using conventional radiation therapy.

•     Stereotactic Radiotherapy

n  Sometimes called stereotactic radiosurgery, this technique allows the radiation oncologist to precisely focus beams of radiation to destroy certain tumors, sometimes in only one treatment.

Internal Radiation Therapy

n  Places radioactive material into tumor or surrounding tissue.

•     Also called brachytherapy – brachy Greek for “short distance.”

•     Radiation sources placed close to the tumor so large doses can hit the cancer cells.

•     Allows minimal radiation exposure to normal tissue.

•     Radioactive sources used are thin wires, ribbons, capsules or seeds.

•     These can be either permanently or temporarily placed in the body.

Side Effects of Radiation Therapy

n  Side effects, like skin tenderness, are generally limited to the area receiving radiation.

n  Unlike chemotherapy, radiation usually doesn’t cause hair loss or nausea.

n  Most side effects begin during the second or third week of treatment.

n  Side effects may last for several weeks after the final treatment.

Is Radiation Therapy Safe?

n  Many advances have been made in the field to ensure it remains safe and effective.

n  Multiple healthcare professionals develop and review the treatment plan to ensure that the target area is receiving the dose of radiation needed.

n  The treatment plan and equipment are constantly checked to ensure proper treatment is being given.

Reference from : www.astro.org