What is Radiation Therapy?

When people think of medical treatment, the last thing they think is radiation therapy. They think of of how radiation is harmful, not helpful. Radiation therapy is the use of high-energy radiation from x-rays, gamma rays, and other sources to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. The two kinds of radiation therapies are external beam and internal radiation therapy. External beam radiation therapy(Teletherapy)  is when the source of the radioactivity is directed to the outside of the body. Internal radiation therapy(Brachytherapy) is when the source of the radioactivity is directed to the inside the body. Both radiation treatments can do much good to a person with cancer but, can cause harm due to the affects of just using radioactivity.

 

How does it work?

The process of this radioactive cancer treatment is complex. The machine used in this method is a linear accelerator(LINAC). A LINAC is what actually cause the cancer cells to die. It uses rays of high energy to aim at the  part of the body in need of treatment, destroying cancer cells  without severely damaging the healthy surrounding tissue. The cancer treatment can also work by injection. Another method of killing the cancer is injecting radioactive substances given for the treatment through the mouth or veins. Both work in the way of shrinking tumors and destroying cancerous cells while still not doing as much harm as the uninfected parts of the body.                                                                                                                                                          Radiation therapy through injection

                                                                                                                                                        Radiation therapy through a linear accelerator

 

Pros of radiation therapy

More than 50% percent of cancer patients are treated with radiation therapy and it happens to be very affective.

1. Stops cancer cells from expanding
2. Shrinks tumors
3. Does not severely harm surrounding tissue of cancerous area

Cons of radiation therapy

Exposed to any human, radiation is a harmful lethal substance that can kill.

1. Skin problems
2. Exhaustion
3. Hair loss

Conclusion

Cancer kills over 1,000 people in a single day. Knowing that there is a therapeutic method to stop the growth of harmful cells, can save hundreds of lives. Although that method has its side affects, this branch of medicine is one of the closes treatments to the cure for cancer. Whether it is reducing a tumor, or killing cancer cells, radiotherapy is giving a second chance to those with cells increasing. To conclude this text, radiation therapy is more helpful than harmful and it helps those with cancer everyday.

Sources

https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/types/radiation-therapy

https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/treatment-types/radiation/external-beam-radiation-therapy.html

https://www.cancer.net/navigating-cancer-care/how-cancer-treated/radiation-therapy/side-effects-radiation-therapy

https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/treatment-types/radiation/basics.html

https://www.intechopen.com/books/novel-gene-therapy-approaches/development-of-muscle-directed-systemic-cancer-gene-therapy

https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/radiation-therapy/about/pac-20385162

https://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=linac

https://training.seer.cancer.gov/treatment/radiation/types.html