All You Need To Know About Radiation Oncology Treatment

External Beam Radiation Therapy

External Therapy is performed using special equipment to deliver a particular amount of Radiation over the affected area. In this treatment, Radiologists direct the radiation from outside the body by aiming at a precise point.

Internal Radiation Therapy

Also known as Brachytherapy Radiation, this treatment is performed to Surgically place the radioactive material inside the patient’s body and close to the tumour. It targets the cancerous cells directly and given along with Chemotherapy and pre or post-surgery. 

Who is on the Radiation Therapy team?

In Radiation Oncology, a team of highly trained medical professionals work together to provide Cancer patients with the best possible care and outcomes. This team may include:

Radiation Oncologist

A Radiation Oncologist specializes in performing Radiation Therapy to treat Cancer patients. They plan and execute the whole treatment while working closely with other team members to ensure fewer side effects and better results.

Radiation Oncology Nurse

A Radiation Oncology nurse specializes in providing care and support for Cancer patients undergoing Radiation Therapy. They can help you by:

• Answering questions about treatments
• Monitoring the vitals and health during treatment
• Managing side effects of treatment

Medical Radiation Physicist

A Medical Radiation Physicist helps design the treatment plans as they are experts in managing radiation equipment and calculating radiation doses.

Radiation Therapy Technologist

They are medical professionals who operate the radiation machines and administer scheduled treatments on Cancer patients.

Other health care professionals

Team members from other specialities, such as Rehabilitation Therapists or Physiotherapists, also provide supportive care for physical, emotional, and social needs during Radiation Therapy. 

When is Radiation Therapy performed?

The best Cancer treatment in Jaipur recommends Radiation Therapy at different stages of Cancer treatment for various reasons. These reasons are:

• As a primary treatment for Cancer
• To shrink a cancerous tumour before surgery, also known as neoadjuvant therapy
• To stop the growth of any remaining cancer cells after surgery, also known as adjuvant therapy
• In conjunction with other treatments, such as Chemotherapy, to improve the outcome
• As a Palliative treatment for advanced cancer and to alleviate symptoms 

What are the Side effects?

Radiation Therapy can also affect healthy cells along with cancerous cells and cause either short-term or long-term side effects. However, the types and severity of these side effects depend on the patient’s health, history and cancer types. 

Short-term side effects of Radiation Treatment are:

• Lethargy or Fatigue
• Skin irritation
• Swelling and blisters
• Excess melanin
• Nausea, Vomiting, and Diarrhoea
• Low White Blood Cells or Platelets 

Long-term side effects of Radiation treatment can include:

• Stiffening and restricted movement due to tissue scarring and requires physiotherapy after the radiation therapy to help loosen movement.
• Skin effects, such as a spidery red or purple appearance, caused by dilated capillary blood vessels.

These long-term side effects of Radiation Therapy occur rarely. The possibility of short-term side effects depends on the patients overall health, cancer type and treatment type. So if you have questions about radiation oncology treatment in Jaipur, consult our expert Oncologists and Radiologists.