What is radiation therapy for cancer in the pelvis?
Radiation therapy uses high-energy radiation (x-rays) to shrink or destroy a tumor in the pelvis and/or help you feel better. The pelvic cavity holds organs such as the rectum, vagina, uterus, ovaries, and bladder. If you have cancer in or near these organs, you may want to consider having this procedure. Some alternatives to radiation therapy are: • having chemotherapy (medicine used to destroy cancer cells) • having surgery to try to remove the cancer • having a combination of chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation • choosing not to have treatment. You should ask your doctor about these choices. Also, you should ask your radiation oncologist how your cancer may affect you and what stage your cancer is in.
