What is radiation oncology?
Radiation oncology is the use of radiation as a treatment of cancer. Sometimes it is called radiotherapy or radiation therapy. This treatment of cancer uses radiation or strong energy energy to kill cancer cells. Some forms of radiation therapy are used to prevent the growth and division of cancer cells.
radiation oncology can be used separately, as the only cancer treatment, or can be used in conjunction with other treatments such as chemotherapy and surgery. Scientists have improved this therapy in the last few years. Doctors now understand the amount of radiation needed for very specific forms of cancer. Since they have this accuracy, the harmful side effects of radiation oncology have been minimized.
Radiation therapy is very specific to the type and severity of the cancer that the individual has. Typically, the individual will receive small doses of radiation daily for several days, up to several weeks. Doctors can be accessed from several types of radiation oncology.
The most common type is external radiation or therapy with an outer beam (Ebrt). In this form of treatment, the linear accelerator produces high energy radiation beam. This beam is focused specifically on cancer cells or tumor. The device used in this form of cancer treatment can easily be moved from place to place to achieve all the necessary angles. Doctors often give external radiation therapy five times a week, for one to eight weeks, depending on cancer and treatment lasts only a few minutes.
The second form of radiation oncology is internal radiation or brachytherapy. Doctors can choose this treatment if they feel that external radiation would be too difficult. Internal radiation can be more effective for deep tissue cancer. In this form there is a radioactive source called the seed around or inside the canvkyceroun tumor. A source that can be placed in a patient permanently or temporarily, then radiates radiation into the areathose to kill cancer cells.
Radiation oncology also has other options. The Calypso 4D location system is a new method for the treatment of prostate cancer, which acts as a GPS system to determine the precise placement of the prostate during treatment. Another option, radiosurgery of gamma knife, is used to treat brain tumors and lesions.
New technologies and procedures continue to evolve to improve cancer treatment. In some patients, radiation may be a suitable treatment, but not for others. When it comes to therapeutic option, doctors and patients can determine the best form of radiation oncology to treat cancer.