Cancer is one of the most dreaded diseases. There have been major strides in the search for its cure, which has brought about quite a number of treatment options. Radiation for cancer treatment is among the various kinds of treatments available. It works by directly attacking the affected cells. In radio therapy, radiation is used to either shrink or kill cancer cells to stop them from growing further. Normally, the treatment is used alongside chemotherapy and surgery in situations where there is no possibility for a cure.
Radiation for cancer treatment can be used for different kinds of cancers, such as skin and breast cancer. There are some instances where radiation is prescribed for cells that are not cancerous. This prevents the healthy cells from being affected by growing cancer cells. If you are to undergo radiation as a form of treating cancer, the doctor might have you undergo external therapy, internal therapy or systematic therapy.
External radiation treatment is used during the primary stages of cancer treatment. The common types of radiation that will be used for external therapy will be gamma rays and x-rays. You should not be afraid when you are told that you have to undergo radiation treatment. Many regulations and rules govern the care and use of the equipment that will be used during therapy. This is all done to ensure a patient’s safety.
With the internal therapy method of radiation for cancer treatment, the radiation will be used close to the affected area using implants. Systematic therapy will involve injecting the patient with radiation directly into the body or taking pills by mouth. Patients undergoing internal therapy might be forced to stay in the hospital.
When told that they will be going for radiation therapy treatment, many patients will want to know if it will make them radioactive. Becoming radioactive will largely depend on the kind of therapy that will be used on the patient. It has been established that external therapy cannot cause a patient to become radioactive. However, it is important to talk to your primary health care physician about the different kinds of treatments available and their effects so you can make the right decision for you.
