What is palliative radiotherapy?
Radiotherapy is a treatment in which radiation is used to destroy cancer cells. In cases where cancer cannot be cured, what is called palliative radiotherapy. The aim of palliative radiotherapy is to alleviate symptoms. It can also be used to delay the growth of tumors and to reduce the size of the tumor. Instead of or radiotherapy that have instead of radiotherapy, there is a different palliative treatment such as chemotherapy and analgesics or painkillers, and the intention is to improve the quality of the person's life. In addition to using treatment to reduce pain and other discomfort, patients and their families are provided by emotional support. The word palliative means reassuring or alleviating symptoms. This type of care is often required for people with terminal cancer and surgery, palliative chemotherapy, palliative radiotherapy and analgesics are possible Optio treatment for advanced cancer control.
Radiotherapy is not used to treat each type of cancer because not all nÁdory is influenced by this. There are two main types of palliative treatment. External radiotherapy includes routing rays in the body areas where cancer cells grow. X -ray images are used to specify exactly where to focus radiation, and measurements are then carried out on the skin. Small marks are tattooed on the skin surface to properly align the radiotherapeutic beam.
Internal radiotherapy may include the use of an implant that is located inside the body next to the tumor to reduce. This type of palliative radiotherapy technique can sometimes be used to release the blocked part of the intestine. Sometimes radioactive substances can be used in the form of a beverage or pill, or radiotherapy doses can be used radioactive wires to the tumor inside the body. In cancer, which spreads widely throughout the skeleton, radioactive material can be inserted into the vein. Radioactivity is then absorbed from blood into tumor cells locatedh in bones.
Although used to alleviate discomfort, there may be side effects associated with palliative radiotherapy. Fatigue can be found during and after treatment. After radiotherapy of the head and neck, swallowing can be painful and if the abdominal area is treated, nausea may occur. Medicines can be administered to alleviate such side effects if they occur.