How Do You Explore Radiation Therapy For Lung Cancer Treatment?
In radiation therapy, doctors use high powered X-rays or other forms of radiation to kill cancerous cells. This treatment can also be used in combination with other types of aggressive therapies, such as chemotherapy or surgery. Follow these steps to learn more about the procedure. Radiation therapy may be given either externally or internally. External radiation utilizes powerful X-ray machines to direct radiation to the location of the cancer. This type of treatment is usually performed on an outpatient basis every 4 or 5 days for several weeks. With internal radiation, a radioactive substance is sealed in a container and placed near the site of the tumor to kill off cancerous cells. Due to complications that may arise from internal radiation and the delicacy of the procedure, it’s usually done on an inpatient basis. Radiation is commonly used in place of surgery when a patient refuses surgical removal of cancerous tumors or when the cancer has become inoperable. A CT scan is usually