Receiving radiation
therapy is an important part of treating cancer in people living with the
disease. Radiation therapy sometimes lessens the pain, diminishes the symptoms,
extends one’s life or enables one to enjoy a cancer-free life. These therapies
are used to treat all types of cancers
including benign cancers, no matter what the stage. However, the sooner the
better, is always the best option.
When one is recommended radiation,
there are a number of things involved. The patient must research the
procedures, perform a risk analysis, and question the side effects of the
treatments and also the cost of radiation oncology. If you’re new to the term and treatment, here is a checklist
of all the things one is expected to do or take note of while getting the
treatment.
Before the Treatment
Meet with your radiation oncologist
The first step involves meeting the
oncologist and his/her team so that you can easily share your worries and
concerns about the treatment. The oncologist, after reviewing your medical
history, will recommend some additional tests before the treatment begins and
talk about the potential risks involved.
Sign a consent form
If you decide to go forward with the
treatment, the oncologist will ask you to sign a consent form. Signing the
document means:
- You have agreed for the treatment
- You give the caregiver the permission to deliver the treatment
- You understand of all the risks involved
- You know that the treatment doesn’t guarantee the intended results
Simulating and planning
Before the actual treatment begins,
the patient will have a simulation session. The oncologist will use imaging
scans to locate the tumour site. To do so, the patient might have to go through
a series of scans and tests, including:
- An X-Ray
- MRI
- CT scan
After the simulation and location of
the tumour, the team of oncologists will then determine how to proceed with the
treatment. A plan will be devised.
During the Treatment
During the treatment, the patient will
go through two different radiation therapies – external-beam and internal
radiation therapy.
1. In external-beam radiation therapy,
the patient will receive radiation via a machine externally. The session will
last no longer than 15 minutes and isn’t painful at all. These sessions will be
conducted 5 times/week; giving the body a day’s rest to heal and repair the
damage. The treatment targets the core tumour.
2. During internal radiation therapy,
the patient will receive both permanent and temporary placement of radioactive
sources in the areas where the tumour is. The session will continue for about a
few days for which the patient might even have to stay in the hospital for a
brief amount of time. This procedure is painful and therefore anaesthesia will
be provided throughout the treatment and a slight discomfort may be felt by the
patient once the radioactive sources have been placed.
After the Treatment
Once the radiation therapy ends, the
patient will have to revisit for a follow-up appointment to ensure all looks
good. The appointment will be made with the radiation oncologist who will:
- Monitor your recovery
- Check for the side effects.
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