RADIATION THERAPY FOR CANCER
Radiation therapy uses high doses of radiation to destroy cancerous cells and tumors. At low doses, radiation therapy is employed for performing X-rays that reveal about inside your body.
Your radiation oncologist will determine whether radiation therapy would benefit you and which type is apt for the kind of cancer you have. He or she will also have a role in designing the radiation treatment plan and the related radiation dosage required to destroy cancer cells without harming any of the surrounding healthy tissues.
RADIATION THERAPY TYPES
Mainly, there are two kinds of radiation therapy: internal radiation therapy (IRT) and external beam radiation therapy (EBRT). Both these radiation types are effective as they destroy the DNA of the cancer cells.
External beam radiation therapy (EBRT)
EBRT or external beam radiation therapy is the most commonly used radiotherapy type. EBRT therapy involves a machine that directs high-energy radiation beams toward the cancerous tumor. These high-energy radiation beams may be X-rays, protons, or electrons.
There are many forms of EBRT:
- CT scans and computer software see used in 3D conformal radiation therapy for creating a 3D replica of the cancerous tumor.
- IMRT or Intensity-modulated radiation therapy is an advanced method of radiation therapy.
- Stereotactic radiosurgery, also called Gamma Knife radiosurgery, delivers focused radiation in a high dosage for precisely destroying brain tumors smaller in size.
- SBRT or stereotactic body radiation therapy employs focused radiation to kill tumors outside your brain.
- IORT or intraoperative radiation is used to deliver radiation during surgery.
- IGRT or image-guided radiotherapy is a type of EBRT in which the radiation machine retrieves a mini CT scan before the treatment.
- Particle therapy utilizes protons instead of photons for radiation therapy.
Internal radiation therapy
Internal radiation therapy gives radiation inside of your body, close to cancer cells. It treats tumors in your head & neck region, breast, and uterus that are small in size.
Brachytherapy implants a solid radioactive source beside or inside a tumor. The source releases radiation to a small area for killing the cancerous cells.
WHY DOES IT GET USED?
● It helps shrink tumors before proceeding with any other cancer treatments.
● It kills any residual cancer cells post-surgery.
● Destroys recurring cancer cells.
Sohana Medical Research Institute is well-known for the precise diagnosis of varying types of cancer. We use the latest equipment to make cancer diagnosis and treatment easier for the patients. Visit us today to get your treatment planned by our experienced oncologists.