What is radiation therapy

Radiation therapy can be used both to treat cancer and to relieve symptoms caused by cancer, such as pain.
It can be given as the only form of treatment or as an additional therapy before or after surgery.

Radiation therapy can also be combined with chemotherapy or hormone therapy.
The aim of radiation therapy is to destroy cancer cells while preserving as much healthy tissue as possible.

The rays used in radiation therapy are the same type as those used in standard X-ray examinations,
but they are much stronger. These rays only affect the areas to which they are directed,
meaning that you will not experience discomfort in other parts of your body that are not exposed to the radiation.

Although the rays are powerful, you will not become radioactive,
and you will not emit radiation after your treatment.

However, you may experience side effects because the radiation can also affect healthy cells.
These side effects may occur in the entire area being treated.
For this reason, we do everything possible to limit the treatment area to the smallest size necessary.

The goal is to deliver a radiation dose that is high enough to destroy cancer cells,
while minimizing harm to healthy cells in the surrounding tissue.

Some people experience few or no side effects, while others may experience several.
This depends on the number of treatments you receive and the area of the body being treated.
Your doctor and radiation therapists will inform you about the possible side effects
based on your individual treatment plan.

Many side effects are temporary and may appear at different times during treatment,
but they usually disappear again afterwards. These are called acute side effects.
Other side effects may appear later — these are known as late effects and may sometimes become chronic.

Common side effects of radiation therapy include:

• Fatigue

• Nausea

• Diarrhea

• Skin and mucous membrane reactions

• Hair loss

• Swelling

• Pain

Pain often occurs due to swelling in the treated area.
Therefore, you may need to take more pain medication than usual for a period of time.

Side effects often worsen in the days following the end of radiation therapy
and typically peak 7–10 days after treatment is completed.

There are also some important things to keep in mind during radiation therapy.
Because radiation therapy works by using the oxygen in your blood,
we recommend that you avoid dietary supplements that contain large amounts of antioxidants.
For the same reason, smokers are advised to stop smoking,
as carbon monoxide from cigarettes reduces the amount of oxygen available in the blood.

If you have any concerns about your treatment, or simply wish to talk to someone about side effects or other matters,
please speak with the radiation therapy staff.
You can also contact your own doctor.