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Index of Diseases and Conditions: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Radiation Therapy

Radiation is a form of energy released in particles or waves. In high doses, radiation destroys cells or keeps them from multiplying.

Radiation therapy is a cancer treatment. Its goal is to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Unlike cancer cells, most of your normal cells recover from radiation therapy. Doctors try to protect normal cells by limiting the radiation dosage and spreading treatment out over time. When they use radiation machines, they shield as much of your body as possible while targeting the cancer.

The radiation for cancer treatment comes externally, from special machines, or internally, from radioactive substances that a doctor places in your body. Sometimes radiation is used with other treatments, like surgery or chemotherapy.

National Cancer Institute

Radiation Therapy on Wikipedia

'''Radiation therapy''' (or '''radiotherapy''') is the medicine use of ionizing radiation as part of cancer therapy to control malignant cell (biology)s (not to be confused with radiology, the use of radiation in medical imaging and diagnosis). Although radiotherapy is often used as part of curative therapy, it is occasionally used as a palliative treatment, where cure is not possible and the aim is for symptomatic relief. Other rare uses are to wipe out the immune system prior to transplant to reduce the incidence of tissue rejection, called total body irradiation (TBI); to calm hyperactive muscles—such as might cause twitchy eyes—with mild superficial treatments; and to form scar tissue around a stent to reinforce the vascular wall.

Application

Radiotherapy is commonly used for the treatment of tumors. It may be used as the primary therapy. It is also common to combine radiotherapy with surgery and/or chemotherapy and/or hormone therapy. The most common tumors treated with radiotherapy are breast cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer, colorectal cancer, head & neck cancers, gynaecological tumors, bladder cancer and lymphoma, although the cancer's stage (progress) and invasion into lymph nodes, as well as and other health and (unfortunately) monetary factors affect which treatment will have the greatest possibility of success. Radiation therapy is commonly applied just to the localised area involved with the tumor. Often the radiation fields also include the draining lymph nodes. It is possible but uncommon to give radiotherapy to the whole body, or entire skin surface. In order to spare interstitial tissue (such as skin or organs which radiation must pass through in order to treat the tumor) several angles of exposure are utilized such that the radiation beams overlap on top of each other at the tumor, providing a much larger ...   [ Read More ]


External Resources

The Healthy House - Products for those suffering from environmentally caused conditions. Air, books, natural bedding, dust mite proof products, electrical and radiation, gloves for eczema, laundry balls, light therapy, paint and varnishes, vacuum and steam cleaners, and water.

Island Life, Hawaii - A variety of specialty sunscreens and skin burn protection from radiation therapy. Also offers protective lip balms.

MDS Nordion - Radioisotope technology used to prevent, diagnose and treat disease. Products and services include nuclear medicine, radiation therapy for cancer, irradiation sterilization and food irradiation.

Scanditronix Wellhofer - Supplier of high quality dosimetric equipment. Products for a wide range of dosimetry applications in Radiation Therapy and Diagnostic Radiology.

51 Oakwood, Inc - Electronic, HIPAA compliant, medical billing service for radiation therapy.

Jobs in Therapy - U.S. job openings for therapy fields including physical, occupational, speech, respiratory, radiation, recreation and massage. Resume submission and recruiting services offered.

TherapyJobs.com - Job listing service for speech therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, radiation therapy, respiratory therapy, massage therapy and music therapy.

Teamstaff-Rx Online! - Specializes in nationwide travel and permanent placement in radiology, ultrasound, radiation therapy, and nursing. Find jobs, apply online and submit job orders.

Midwest Radiation Consultants - Offers physics and technology consulting for healthcare providers; services include radiology, nuclear medicine, radiation therapy and radiation safety.

CSP Medical - Offering devices and accessories for radiology, nuclear medicine, radiation therapy, and medical physics. London, Ontario, Canada. [French and English]


Related Pages on HealthTales.com:

Radiation Exposure
Genes and Gene Therapy
Hormone Replacement Therapy

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