Radiotherapy is the use of ionizing radiation in the treatment of cancer. Light, radar, telephone, and radio waves are all forms of radiation. Radiation, which literally means radiating or expressing radiation, causes the atoms to change when they come into contact with the human body.
What is Radiotherapy?
Radiotherapy, also known as radiation therapy, is a high It can also be defined as the use of energized rays for therapeutic purposes. Ionizing rays damage tumor DNA, which is formed by the proliferation of cancer cells. Radiotherapy, which causes genetic damage to healthy cells as well as cancer cells, is safely applied to cancer patients.
Cancer cells exposed to radiotherapy cannot recover from the damage, while healthy cells can repair the damage. Radiotherapy can be used in the early or end-stage treatment of tumors in almost all organs. The type of radiation applied in radiotherapy also consists of ionizing radiation. In other words, radiotherapy causes structural differentiation in the tissue by stimulating atoms when applied to the human body.
What is radiotherapy? It is necessary to answer the question. The energy that radiation has is carried through particles and waves. High doses of radiation obtained from special devices can prevent cancer cells from dividing and multiplying, as well as killing them.
In the past, radiotherapy was applied to a very large area to destroy cancerous tissue. Radiotherapy, which constitutes approximately 60% of cancer treatment, is mostly used for target purposes today. In other words, radiation beams are sent at high doses to the predetermined area of ​​cancerous cells. Thus, while the healthy tissues in the person's body are protected as much as possible, the tumor and its surroundings are completely exposed to radiotherapy. However, this does not mean that healthy tissues are definitely protected.
Radiotherapy is used in a way that does not exceed the tolerance level of healthy tissues. is applied. Thus, very little damage is done to healthy tissues, and cancer cells are destroyed. Radiotherapy, which can be applied in three different types as external (external), internal (internal) and systemic (whole body), is performed with radiation sent to the body with a computer-controlled device. Externally given radiotherapy is applied from a certain distance by targeting. During the radiotherapy process applied by a large machine, the machine does not come into contact with the body. Radiation beams are sent to the person from afar. Internal radiotherapy is performed in two different ways as brachytherapy and radioisotope.
In brachytherapy, which is a local type of treatment, radioactive implants are placed inside the body, close to the tumor tissue. Radioisotope therapy is administered by intravenous injection or by swallowing a radioactive liquid or capsule. In this method, the radioactive material spreads throughout the body. In systemic radiotherapy given to the whole body, radioactive substances are given to the patient through the mouth or intravenous route. Unlike other techniques, this method is applied by nuclear medicine physicians.
Systemic radiotherapy, also known as atomic therapy, is also known as iodine-131 (I-131) therapy. It spreads throughout the body through the circulatory system. Radiotherapy, which is used for regional treatment, consists of sessions of approximately 15 to 20 minutes. After the application, the person can continue his daily life. External and internal methods of radiotherapy, also known as radiation therapy or radiation therapy, are applied by the physicians of the radiation oncology department.
What are the Purposes of Radiotherapy?
- Adjuvant Radiotherapy: Adjuvant radiotherapy, which can be applied in many different types of cancer, especially breast cancer, can also be defined as postoperative radiation therapy. It is aimed to destroy the cancer cells that may remain in the body, thanks to the application performed after the surgical removal of the tumor tissue. Thus, it is tried to prevent the recurrence (recurrence) of the cancer.
- Primary Radiotherapy: It is a type of radiotherapy applied alone in some cancer types such as laryngeal (vocal cord) tumors. radiother only This method, which can also be defined as api application, provides similar success by being applied instead of surgical intervention in selected cases. It is aimed to reduce the patient's complaints. Thanks to this method, which is applied especially in the presence of brain and bone metastases, it is aimed to prevent or relieve the patient's complaints such as pain, bleeding and shortness of breath. In addition, it is aimed to prevent serious health problems such as pathological fractures, paralysis and impaired consciousness.
Is it necessary to prepare beforehand?
Various tests and examinations performed on the patient After filming, the location of the tumor and the area where it has spread, if any, are determined. The medical oncologist and radiation oncologist determine the most appropriate treatment method for the patient. In case of a decision for radiotherapy, the physician informs the patient in detail about the treatment method. After the patient accepts the radiotherapy treatment method, it is decided to make a simulation for the patient. Since this lying position will be applied during each radiotherapy session, it is important for the patient to find a comfortable position without straining. The physician prepares the masks that fix the whole or part of the patient's body, and a film is taken with the simulator. With the obtained film, the risky tissues and organs in the area to be treated are determined. Thus, protection is prepared specifically for the patient for the organs that need to be protected.
Another technique is scanning the area to be treated with tomography. After the first step of 3D planning, radiation oncologists and oncologists determine the target organs and risk areas for each section obtained by tomography. By transferring the data to the computer, a three-dimensional image of the patient is obtained. Thus, the preparation phase is completed before radiotherapy.
How is Radiotherapy Applied?
Radiotherapy, or as it is known among the people, is generally used for four different purposes:
Neoadjuvant Radiotherapy: It is used to shrink some types of tumors, especially rectum and lung cancers. it is. Neoadjuvant radiotherapy, also known as pre-operative radiotherapy, aims to shrink the tumor formed by cancer cells. Thus, as little tissue as possible is removed from the patient during the operation.
Radiotherapy, which is usually applied as 5 cycles a week for 3 to 9 weeks, can sometimes be performed more than once a day. Each session of radiotherapy, which is given to the patient in small doses daily, lasts approximately 15 minutes. In external radiotherapy, a large machine is used to deliver X-rays, protons, electrons, gamma rays or different combinations of these energy forms to the patient. The patient lies on the table of the machine. The technician outside the room operates the machine. After this painless procedure, the patient is sent home. In cases where the implants need to be placed closer to the cancerous tissue, surgical intervention may be required. Implants can remain in the patient's body for a few minutes or for life.
The patient must stay in the hospital during the brachytherapy application. The main reason for this is that implants pose a radiation risk to other people. However, permanent implants used for a long time do not cause harm to other people around the person being treated, as they emit much lower doses of radiation. This situation differs according to the general condition of the patient and his response to treatment.
Read: 0
