Cancer treatment often involves therapies that target cancer cells but can also impact healthy tissues, leading to side effects. Understanding the different types of treatment and how they may affect the body is valuable information for patients. This information can help them navigate care options and communicate with healthcare teams.
What Is Cancer Treatment?
Radiation therapy is commonly used to treat various forms of cancer. This cancer treatment uses high-energy radiation to damage the DNA of cancer cells, preventing them from growing or dividing. Radiation therapy can be a local treatment, which focuses on a specific part of the body affected by cancer. Unlike chemotherapy, which works throughout the entire body, radiation is targeted, so its effects tend to be limited to the area being treated.
Radiation therapy may be recommended as the main treatment to address certain cancers, or as part of a broader plan alongside surgery or chemotherapy. It can also help reduce tumor size before surgery or address lingering cells after surgery. Radiation may help relieve symptoms by reducing pressure from tumors on other organs.
There are different forms of radiation therapy. External beam radiation is the most widely used method, involving precise targeting of cancer from outside the body. Internal radiation positions a radioactive source inside the body near or in the tumor. Some cancers are treated using systemic radiation, which involves swallowing or injecting a radioactive substance that circulates through the body.
What Does It Involve?
The process begins with detailed planning by a radiation oncology team. Imaging tests, such as CT scans, help pinpoint the exact location for treatment. With external beam radiation, a machine rotates around the patient to deliver precise doses of radiation from different angles without physically touching them.
Systemic radiation uses radioactive substances, often in liquid form, to treat cancer cells throughout the body. Radiation therapy is carefully calibrated to provide maximum impact on cancer cells while minimizing effects on healthy tissue. The dose and length of treatment depend on the cancer type, location, and goals of therapy.
What Are the Side Effects?
The likelihood and type of side effects depend on the area being treated and the dose of radiation. Fatigue is one of the most commonly reported effects. Many patients experience a persistent sense of tiredness that does not improve with rest. This may persist for weeks following the completion of therapy. Skin reactions are also frequent, especially in the area receiving treatment. Skin may become red, swollen, or sensitive, similar to a sunburn. These symptoms usually improve after treatment ends, although the affected area can remain more sensitive. Patients are advised to monitor and report side effects as soon as they notice them. Such information helps the medical team manage symptoms and adjust treatment protocols to support patient comfort and safety.
Confer With a Cancer Specialist
Effective cancer care involves ongoing support. Honest conversations with a specialist who can explain treatment approaches and help manage side effects are a great benefit to patients. Working with the care team allows those undergoing treatment to address challenges early. Proper care allows patients to access supportive therapies and receive guidance tailored to their unique needs throughout the course of treatment.
