| Radiation therapy
(also called radiotherapy, X-ray therapy, or irradiation) is the
use of ionizing radiation to kill cancer cells and shrink
tumors. Radiation therapy can be administered externally via
external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) or internally via
brachytherapy. The effects of radiation therapy are localised
and confined to the region being treated. Radiation therapy
injures or destroys cells in the area being treated (the "target
tissue") by damaging their genetic material, making it
impossible for these cells to continue to grow and divide.
Although radiation damages both cancer cells and normal cells,
most normal cells can recover from the effects of radiation and
function properly. The goal of radiation therapy is to damage as
many cancer cells as possible, while limiting harm to nearby
healthy tissue. Hence, it is given in many fractions, allowing
healthy tissue to recover between fractions.
Radiation therapy may be used to treat almost every type of
solid tumor, including cancers of the brain, breast, cervix,
larynx, lung, pancreas, prostate, skin, stomach, uterus, or soft
tissue sarcomas. Radiation is also used to treat leukemia and
lymphoma. Radiation dose to each site depends on a number of
factors, including the radiosensitivity of each cancer type and
whether there are tissues and organs nearby that may be damaged
by radiation. Thus, as with every form of treatment, radiation
therapy is not without its side effects.
Treatment Chemotherapy >>
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Cancer
Classification
1. Nomenclature
2. Adult cancers
3. Childhood cancers
Signs and symptoms
Diagnosis
1. Investigation
2. Biopsy
Treatment
1. Surgery
2. Radiation therapy
3. Chemotherapy
4. Targeted therapies
5. Immunotherapy
6. Hormonal therapy
7. Symptom control
8. Complementary and alternative
9. Treatment trials
Prognosis
1. Emotional impact
Causes
1. Chemical carcinogens
2. Ionizing radiation &
Infectious diseases
3. Hormonal imbalances
& Immune system dysfunction
4. Heredity & Other causes
Pathophysiology
1. Epigenetics
2. Oncogenes
3. Tumor suppressor genes
4. Cancer cell biology
4.1 Clonal evolution
4.2 Biological properties of cancer cells
Prevention
1. Modifiable ("lifestyle") risk factors
2. Diet
3. Vitamins
4. Chemoprevention
5. Genetic testing
6. Vaccination
7. Screening
Epidemiology
History
Research |
