What to Expect from Radiation Therapy

QUESTION: The next step in the treatment of a cancer in a very close relative
is radiation therapy. Though there is much hope for the benefits it will
provide, there is also much concern about the side effects that may also come.
Could you outline what we can expect next? What happens when a person must
have radiation treatment for cancer?
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ANSWER: Radiation therapy (RT), either external or internal, consists of high
x-ray or gamma ray doses used to destroy the ability of cells to grow and
divide. At times, RT also is referred to as cobalt treatment, x-ray therapy,
radiotherapy or irradiation. RT is much more powerful than the amount
necessary for "routine" x-rays (those of the chest, for example).
External RT, in which a machine directs radiation to the cancer, is the
type most patients receive. Brief treatments, usually five days a week for
several weeks, are given during outpatient visits to a hospital, cancer center
or doctor's office. Total dosages of radiation and number of treatments vary
among patients and types of cancers.
During internal RT, where one or more implants (small containers of
radioactive material) are placed inside the body--either in or very close to
a tumor--a patient likely will have to remain in a hospital for several days.
As in other treatments for serious illnesses, RT can produce unwanted
side effects when its power also destroys not only cancer cells but healthy
ones as well. Many RT side effects are minor and disappear shortly after
treatment ceases, yet others are more serious and can last longer. The most
common side effects are fatigue, skin problems, loss of appetite and hair
loss.
A patient can do many things to help control side effects. First, a
responsible patient will follow all doctors' orders precisely. A patient
under therapy will require a great deal of rest, should eat a well balanced
diet and take special care of the skin. These simple actions, along with the
support and help of the entire medical team, can produce the best results
with the least number of unwanted side effects.