As we are familiar that more than 12 million people around the world are diagnosed with Cancer, it is a major worldwide health concern. Millions of people can be benefitted from radiation therapy. Curative or palliative treatments against tumors includes radiation. The treatment is often simulated during planning before the real treatment is administered to ensure accuracy of radiation therapy. It is an effective part for patient’s cancer treatment regimen. We’ve come in far to fight against cancer and maximizing current treatment options for patients’ chance of recovery and preserve quality of life.
What is Radiation Therapy?
Radiation therapy (Radiotherapy) is a treatment which uses high energy radiations such as X rays, gamma rays and charged particles against cancer cells and, less commonly, thyroid disease, blood disorders and noncancerous growths. Radiation therapy only affect the cells in the part of the body to be treated.
Two forms of Radiation Therapy are:
- Brachytherapy (Internal Radiation Therapy) – A radioactive substance is placed close to the cancerous tissue in this form of radiation therapy. Example:Systemic radiation therapy.
- External Beam Radiation Therapy – An external machine focuses the beam of radiation onto the treatment area. Example: intensity-modulated radiation therapy(IMRT), Image-guided radiation therapy(IGRT), Stereotactic radiosurgery.
Breast cancer radiation therapy is used to destroy the remaining mutated cells that remain in the breast or armpit area after surgery. Radiation therapy is occasionally used to address nonmalignant diseases. Cancer symptoms are relieved by shrinking a tumor and relieving pressure on surrounding tissues by Radiation therapy.
When is Radiation Therapy used?
Radiation oncologist prescribes the types of radiation therapy depending on factors such as:
- Type of cancer.
- Cancer’s location in the body.
- Patient’s general health and medical history
- Size of the cancer.
- How far into the body the radiation needs to travel.
- Whether the patient will have other types of cancer treatment.
- How close the cancer is to normal tissues that are sensitive to radiation.
- Other factors, such as the patient’s age and other medical conditions.
Radiation therapy may be deployed as :
- Alongside surgical treatment before a cancer operation, during,or afterward to reduce the risk of incomplete removal of cancer cells.
- Used with chemotherapy which reduces the need for surgery.
- Or alone against prostate cancer or tumor of the larynx, when radiation may be preferable to surgery.
Modest Cancer treatments in India
Indian healthcare recognizes the significance of excellent health and well-being of patients and the primary objective is to provide cost-effective cancer treatments. Indian hospitals provide association of top surgeons with latest procedures for cancer. Radiation treatment cost is very less as rates are deemed higher in developed countries.
