First off, it is important to understand what Radiation Therapy is, how it is used and what affect it has on the body. Radiation Therapy is a treatment for cancer; it can be used by itself or in combination with chemotherapy or surgery. It is defined by WebMD.com as “The use of high-energy rays to damage cancer cells, stopping them from growing and dividing.” It is a localized treatment that only affects the area of the body treated by killing the cancer cells.
Facts About Radiation Therapy (ehealthmd.com)
• About 60 percent of all cancer patients will require radiation therapy as part of their care.
• Radiation therapy can be used to help cure cancer or to relieve symptoms alone or in combination with other therapies, such as surgery or chemotherapy.
• Most patients who need radiation will have treatments four or five days a week for five to seven weeks.
• Most people receive radiation for one to five minutes per treatment.
Although physicians and therapy techs strive to limit the radiation dose to the patient to make the treatment as safe and effective as possible, there are still major side effects to radiation therapy. Some common side effects are:
• Fatigue
• Nausea/vomiting
• Hair loss
• Low blood counts
• Skin problems
• Loss of appetite
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