The Discussion Geek

Radiation oncology (also sometimes called radiation therapy) involves the treatment of cancer tumors with ionized radiation. Sometimes this field of medicine is confused with radiology, which is the use of radiation in diagnosis with medical imaging scans. Radiotherapy may be used to cure cancer, to provide symptomatic relief when the cancer cannot be treated and to work with other treatments to improve the quality of life. “Total body irradiation” is a technique used to prepare patients for bone marrow transplants. Sometimes radiation is used to treat neuropathic nerve disorders, eye diseases and non-cancerous growths. Radiation has been known to prevent keloid scar growth and heterotopic ossification, which is why it’s often used alongside other methods of tumor removal treatment.

There are two types of radiation therapy within the field of radiation oncology; external and internal. External radiation is administered via a linear accelerator once or twice a day, five days a week for several weeks. Over the weekend, a person’s healthy cells have a chance to recuperate. By contrast, internal radiation places directed, high-energy rays inside the body to the cancer cells directly. There are different types of implants an oncologist may use — small seeded pieces of radioactive substance or implanted vial reservoirs where radioactive substance is injected. This “substance” may be radium, cesium, iodine or phosphorus and the implants may be temporary or permanent.

The success of radiation oncology depends upon the size of the tumor and the type of cancer. For example, there are highly radiosensitive cancer cells — like leukemia, lymphomas and germ cell tumors. So if lymphoma is found in one localized area, there is a good probability the cancer can be eradicated. On the other hand, some tumors are radio-resistant, such as renal cell cancer, melanoma and metastatic cancers that have spread throughout the whole body. While radiotherapy may be prescribed along with another treatment, the medical problem cannot be helped by radiation alone.

Even though there are many benefits of radiation oncology treatment, some people would rather not get involved with oncology radiology because of the possible long-term side effects. Some people who underwent brain irradiation have reported memory impairment and confusion, personality changes, dental problems or cataracts. Others say their treatment led to high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels, the development of another cancer, infertility or hypothyroidism. Every person reacts differently to radiation therapy, so it’s important that patients talk to their doctors about the potential risks and rewards associated with this treatment.

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