Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 10 million deaths occur annually due to various types of cancers. However, advances in medical science have led to the development of effective treatment options like radiotherapy that can help cure many cancers or ease symptoms in patients. In this article, we will discuss what radiotherapy is, how it works, different types of radiation therapy, potential side effects, and new advancements in the field.
What is Radiotherapy?
Radiotherapy, also known as radiation therapy, involves using high-energy rays or particles to treat cancer and control its growth. It can be used alone or in combination with surgery, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or immunotherapy to kill cancer cells or shrink tumors. Radiation works by damaging the DNA of cancer cells so that they cannot multiply and form new cancer cells. Healthy cells are also affected by radiation, but they can repair themselves in contrast to cancer cells.
Modes of Radiotherapy
External Beam Radiotherapy: It is the most common type where a machine outside the body is used to aim high-energy beams such as X-rays, gamma rays, proton beams, at the tumor site. The patient lies down on a table, and the radiation source aims beams at precise angles towards the tumor.
Internal or Implant Radiotherapy: Also known as brachytherapy, it involves placing radioactive seeds, wires, or catheters inside or next to the tumor. Some examples are prostate seed implants or radiotherapy for cervical cancer using ceramic ovoids.
Newer Types: Technologies like intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), stereotactic radiosurgery, image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT), proton beam therapy offer more precise radiation treatments and ability to deliver higher doses to tumors.
Effectiveness and Side Effects
Studies have shown that radiotherapy alone or in combination with other treatments effectively treats several cancer types like head and neck, lung, breast, prostate, and skin cancer. It can cure early-stage cancers in some patients or control cancer growth and spread in late-stage cases. However, side effects are also common during and after radiotherapy. They include fatigue, skin irritation, nausea, loss of appetite etc. These usually subside once treatment ends but may persist in some cases. Rare but severe side effects involve damage to tissues and organs near the tumor.
Precautions and New Advances
To minimize side effects, doctors carefully plan treatments based on tumor location and size using imaging scans. Fractionated or split-dose approaches allow healthy tissues to recover between treatments. Advances like proton beams precisely target tumors minimizing exposure to surrounding tissues. Newer immune therapies combined with radiotherapy show potential to boost effectiveness. Scientists are investigating ways to enhance cancer cell death using nanoparticles, biological therapies etc. All these developments promise more personalized radiation treatments with better outcomes.
Conclusion
In conclusion, radiotherapy is an important cancer treatment that has evolved significantly over the past few decades. Technologies like IMRT and proton beams allow delivering higher and more precise radiation doses. Combined with immunotherapy and targeted therapies, radiotherapy effectiveness continues to improve. With advanced treatment planning and delivery techniques, more cancer patients can now undergo radiation and benefit from curative or palliative intent of this treatment modality.
