Radiation Therapy

Supervisor by: Dr.Mohammad Malik Abood

Dr.Dhuha Jalil Shareef
 Radiation therapy
• Radiation therapy, also called radiotherapy, is a type of cancer treatment. This
treatment uses beams of intense energy to kill cancer cells. Radiation therapy most
often uses X-rays. But other types of radiation therapy exist, including proton
radiation.
• Radiation therapy can be given inside or outside of your body. The most common kind
is external beam radiation therapy. This treatment uses a large machine called a linear
accelerator. High-energy beams are aimed from the machine to a precise point on your
body. Radiation treatment that goes inside the body is called brachytherapy
• Radiation therapy damages cells by destroying their genetic material. Genetic material
controls how cells grow and divide. Healthy cells may be damaged along with cancer
cells during radiation therapy. But healthy cells can repair themselves more easily than
cancer cells. The goal of the radiation therapy is to treat the cancer while harming as
few healthy cells as possible.
 Why it's done?

• Radiation therapy is used to

treat just about every type of
cancer. In fact, more than half
of all people with cancer will
receive radiation therapy as part
of their treatment. Radiation
therapy also may be used to
treat some conditions that aren't
cancerous. This includes tumors
that aren't cancerous, called
benign tumors.
 BASIC PRINCIPLES OF RADIOTHERAPY

• The higher the dose of the radiation delivered to the tumor, higher the probability
of the local control of the tumor. Hence, generally the aim is to deliver the
maximum dose to the tumor without causing undue toxicity to the surrounding
normal tissues.
• The lower the dose to the surrounding normal tissues.
• Larger tumors require higher doses of radiation for control. Conversely, small or
microscopic tumors require lower doses for control.
• Hypoxic tumor cells (usually in he center of the tumor) are relatively
radioresistant and require higher doses of radiation to achieve cell kill. Surgical
removal of the hypoxic cells decreases the radiation dose required and increases
the probability of the local control
Types of radiation therapy used for cancer treatment
• 3D conformal radiation therapy (3DCRT) uses three-dimensional scans to determine
the exact shape and size of the tumor. Radiation beams are shaped by tiny metal
leaves arranged to fit the tumor. This minimizes the side effects to healthy tissues.
• Image guided radiation therapy (IGRT) This type of radiation treats tumors in areas of
the body that move. This includes cancers of the lungs, liver, pancreas and prostate
gland,
• Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) delivers multiple radiation beams
directly on the tumor. This type of radiation is often used when the tumor is extremely
close to surrounding normal organs.
• Volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) uses multiple radiation beams of different
intensities. As the treatment machine rotates, radiation is delivered at every angle.
This focuses the highest dose of radiation on the tumor, while reducing radiation to
healthy organs
 Treatment

• Usually, the treatment course lasts between two and five weeks. Patients are
brought by the radiotherapy technologists into the treatment room and positioned
onto the treatment table. The radiotherapy technologist then sets up the treatment,
and the actual treatment itself takes only a couple of minutes. During the actual
treatment, patients are alone in the room but the technologist is outside and can
monitor patients through a close circuit television.
• The treatment is painless. Patients do not hear or feel anything during or after the
treatment. Patients then return on schedule to complete the treatment course.
During the radiation course, patients are monitored by the radiation oncologist
and his/her staff.
 Risks
You may or may not have side effects from radiation therapy. It depends on which part
of your body is getting the radiation and how much is used. If you do have side effects,
they can be controlled during treatment. After treatment, most side effects will go away

Part of body being Common side effects

treated
Any part Hair loss at treatment site (some times permanent), skin
irritation, fatigue
Head and neck Dry mouth, difficulty swallowing, sore throat, nausea
Chest Cough, shortness of breath
Abdomen Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
Pelvis Diarrhea, bladder irritation, frequent urination
Sometimes side effects develop after treatment. These are called late side
effects. Very rarely, a new cancer may develop years or decades after cancer
treatment. It can be caused by radiation or other treatments. This is called a
second primary cancer
 How Do Chemo and Radiation Side
Effects Differ?
Both chemotherapy and radiation work to destroy cancer cells, which can take a toll
on the entire body. But they may affect the body in different ways.
Side Effects of Chemo:
Because the drugs used in chemotherapy can be nonspecific to cancers and impact
other healthy tissues of the body, they cause some side effects
Common side effect of chemotherapy include:
• Hair loss
• Mouth sores
• Nausea
• Exhaustion
Chemotherapy is often give in cycles. For example, you may receive one week of
treatment and then have a few weeks off to allow your body to heal before the next
treatment.
Side Effects of Radiation:
Radiation typically targets one area, so with radiation you may experience fewer
side effects than with chemotherapy, which is systemic. However, local radiation
can have side effects if nearby healthy tissues are damaged during treatment.
Side effects of radiation will vary depending on the location of the treatment, but
they may include:
• Exhaustion
• Nausea
• Mouth sores
• Throat problems that make it hard to eat
• Dry skin