What is Radiotherapy?
Radiation therapy, or radiotherapy, is the use of high-energy radiation from x-rays, gamma rays, neutrons, and other sources to destroy cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation may come from a machine outside the body (external-beam radiation therapy), or it may come from radioactive material placed in the body near cancer cells (internal radiation therapy, implant radiation, or brachytherapy). Systemic radiation therapy uses a radioactive substance, such as a radiolabeled monoclonal antibody, that circulates throughout the body. Fractionated radiotherapy is administered in a series of treatment sessions over a specified period of time.
Radiotherapy is the use of radiation in the treatment of cancer. Radiation does not hurt. There is nothing to see or feel. The patient is positioned on a couch and the machine, which produces x-rays, gamma rays or electrons, is directed precisely onto the tumour bearing area. The entire session takes one or two minutes.
Related Questions
- Can synchronous chemotherapy be added to accelerated hypofractionated radiotherapy in patients with base of tongue cancer?
- Is there an alternative to wide field radiotherapy for patients with widely disseminated bone metastases?
- When should we define the response rates in the treatment of bone metastases by palliative radiotherapy?
