Radiation therapy uses particles similar to those of X-rays, but of higher energy capable of penetrating into the body.
This technique for cancer treatment acts on the tumor, destroying the malignant cells and preventing them from growing and reproducing, but also destroys normal tissues temporarily, so that radiotherapy has side effects. The advantage is that healthy cells have greater capacity for regeneration than cancer, so the body recovers from the damage once it has managed to remove the tumor and treatment is completed.
Radiation therapy can be administered either as monotherapy or as adjunct to surgery or chemotherapy. When the previously radiated area affected by the tumor, its size is reduced further by facilitating the surgeon’s intervention. In the event that received radiation after undergoing surgery, the goal is to destroy cells that have been left after excision.
Radiation therapy is the best approach in the case of malignant lesions that are not accessible by surgery, either because the tumor is located in a region of the body difficult to access, or for their great size, which precludes their removal. The combined treatment with radiotherapy and chemotherapy are often also used to enhance the effectiveness of both treatments.
Cesium, cobalt, phosphorus, gold, iridium or platinum are among the substances commonly used in these therapies.
Tags: cancer treatment, malignant cells, Radiation Therapy, What is Radiation Therapy?, X-rays,