One of the diseases that causes panic to any person is cancer, as the danger of this disease is that it is out of control and many of the treatments used for it do not guarantee a complete cure from it, so;

What is radiotherapy? 

Radiation therapy is a treatment for all types of cancer that relies on high-energy rays, such as X-rays, to kill cancer cells by targeting their DNA, which works to prevent their reproduction and eventual death. 

The advantage of radiotherapy is that it targets cancer cells in a specific location, and does not affect the entire body like chemotherapy.  

Although radiation therapy is largely local, it can inadvertently cause damage to nearby healthy tissue, so; 

Radiation therapy can be used with several different techniques.  

• Tumor size. 
• Location of the tumor in the body. 
• How close the tumor is to normal tissue that is sensitive to radiation. 
• Patient's medical history. 
• Other treatment options available to the patient. 

Types of radiation therapy

The most common types of radiation therapy include:   

• External beam radiotherapy (EBRT): High-energy external beam radiation is the most widely used form of radiation therapy, as it is directed at the tumor from outside the body, allowing higher doses of radiation to be delivered while reducing its reach to healthy tissues.

•  3D radiotherapy (3D-CRT)This technology relies on software to create a three-dimensional model of the tumor, which allows the rays to be directed precisely toward the tumor, without hitting healthy tissue. 
• Imaging radiotherapy (IMRT): Through this technique, the intensity of radiation can be controlled, allowing higher doses to be directed to the tumor, while reducing injury to surrounding healthy tissue. 
• Arc radiography (SRS): With this technique, focused beams of radiation are used to target small, precisely defined tumors surgically, often in one or a limited number of treatment sessions.  
• Systemic radiotherapy: In this technique, the patient takes radioactive materials orally or intravenously; 

How long does radiotherapy last?

The length of treatment varies depending on the specific tumor and location. For example, partial breast radiotherapy can last five days or less in the case of intensification;  

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How long does a radiotherapy session last? 

An external beam radiation therapy session usually takes between 30-45 minutes, including setup time, but the actual treatment only takes 2-5 minutes. 

Is radiotherapy painful? 

Radiation therapy is usually painless, as nothing will touch you while you are receiving treatment. You will only hear clicking or whistling sounds during treatment, and this is normal. 

In addition, you may experience some side effects depending on the treatment area and the amount of radiation you receive, including:

• Skin sensitivity in the area selected for radiation treatment, which looks like a sunburn. 
• Changes in the mouth and throat or difficulty swallowing. 
• Burning or pain when urinating. 
• Itching and dryness in the vagina or pain during intercourse. 
• Pain or swelling in the arms or legs. 
• Pain or numbness in the hands and feet due to chemotherapy or surgery if the nerves are damaged.
• Painful scars if you undergo surgery. 

Most side effects disappear within one to two months after completing radiotherapy, and this does not prevent the need to consult a doctor whenever any unusual symptom appears during this period. 

Does radiation therapy cause hair loss? 

Radiation therapy will only cause hair loss in the specific area of ​​the body that is being treated, and hair loss may also occur in the area where the treatment beams are coming from. 

For example, if radiotherapy is applied to your arm, you may lose hair on it, but hair on your head will not be affected. 

The amount of hair loss depends on several factors, including: 

• Size of the treated area. 
•  The total dose of radiation given. 
• Type of radiation used. 

In contrast, chemotherapy causes hair loss in all parts of the body, whether the head or eyebrows, and it begins 1-3 weeks after the start of treatment. 

What can give hope is that hair grows again after treatment, as scientific studies have proven that there is a typical response to medications that stimulate hair growth even after receiving high doses of radiation. Among the methods of stimulating hair growth are the following:  

• Hair regrowth medications are customized, prescription-grade strengths. 
• Modern medicine techniques, such as plasma injection (PRP) treatment for hair. 
• Low level laser therapy; 

Does radiation therapy kill cancer? 

If the doses of radiotherapy are high, it may kill cancer cells or slow their growth by damaging their DNA, causing their reproduction to be disrupted and they to disintegrate and die to be eliminated from the body. 

 It is important to know that radiation therapy does not kill cancer cells immediately, but rather it takes days or weeks of treatment before the DNA is damaged enough to cause the cancer cells to die. 

Does cancer come back after radiotherapy? 

Unfortunately, cancer can return after radiotherapy. However, the risk of recurrence varies depending on the type of cancer and the dose and timing of radiotherapy, so it is important to adhere to regular follow-up with the specialist doctor to monitor any signs of cancer recurrence and ensure the success of the treatment. 

Many doctors recommend using several methods to treat cancer, not just one method. Radiation, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy can be combined, as well as surgery, in order to improve the chances of recovery and reduce the possibility of its recurrence. 

Read also:  Can lung cancer be cured?

In conclusion, radiation therapy has come a long way since its inception, as it has evolved from an emerging concept into a powerful and effective type of treatment that stands as a beacon of hope for countless individuals fighting cancer, so it was important that we discuss its types and effects as we mentioned above, so do not worry and talk to your doctor and adhere to his instructions and the treatment method that he deems appropriate for you.