The most common type of radiation therapy is external beam radiation therapy (EBRT). In EBRT, high-energy X-rays or other types of radiation are delivered from outside the body to target cancer cells. This is in contrast to internal radiation therapy (brachytherapy), where a radioactive source is placed inside or very close to the tumor.

In external beam radiation therapy:

Linear Accelerator:

The most widely used device for delivering external beam radiation is a linear accelerator. This machine generates high-energy X-rays or electrons that are directed at the tumor from various angles. The goal is to precisely target the cancer cells while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissues.

Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT):

IMRT is an advanced form of external beam radiation therapy that allows for more precise targeting of the tumor. It adjusts the intensity of the radiation beams at multiple angles, shaping the dose to conform to the three-dimensional shape of the tumor.

Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT):

IGRT involves the use of imaging technology (such as CT scans or X-rays) before and sometimes during the treatment to verify the position of the tumor. This helps ensure accurate targeting, especially if the tumor is subject to movement.

Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) and Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS):

SBRT delivers highly focused radiation to small tumors in the body over a few treatment sessions. SRS, on the other hand, is a similar technique used for tumors in the brain or central nervous system. Both SBRT and SRS aim to deliver high doses of radiation precisely to the tumor while sparing surrounding healthy tissues.

External beam radiation therapy is employed for various types of cancer and is often part of a comprehensive treatment plan, which may include surgery, chemotherapy, or other modalities. The specific type of radiation therapy recommended depends on factors such as the type and location of the cancer, the size of the tumor, and the overall health of the patient. Treatment plans are developed and customized based on individual cases in collaboration with a multidisciplinary healthcare team.

Radiation therapy can have a significant impact on liver cancer patients, depending on various factors, including the stage of cancer, overall health, and treatment goals. Here are key considerations:

Tumour Shrinkage:

Radiation therapy aims to shrink or destroy cancer cells. In liver cancer, it may be used to target and reduce the size of tumours. This can alleviate symptoms, improve quality of life, and, in some cases, make surgery or transplantation more feasible.

Palliative Care:

For patients with advanced liver cancer, radiation therapy can be used as part of palliative care. It may help manage symptoms such as pain, bleeding, or discomfort, enhancing the patient's overall well-being.

Locoregional Therapy:

Radiation therapy is often utilized as a locoregional therapy, meaning it targets cancer cells in the specific region of the liver without affecting the entire body. This can be particularly beneficial in cases where surgery is not an option.

Combination Therapies:

Radiation therapy may be combined with other treatments, such as surgery, chemotherapy, or targeted therapies, to create a comprehensive and individualized approach to cancer treatment. This combination can enhance the overall effectiveness of the treatment plan.

Side Effects:

While radiation therapy targets cancer cells, it can also affect nearby healthy tissues. Side effects may include fatigue, nausea, and changes in liver function. The severity of side effects varies among individuals.

Improving Candidacy for Transplant:

In some cases, radiation therapy may be employed to downsize tumors and improve a patient's eligibility for liver transplantation, providing a potentially curative option.

It's crucial to emphasize that the impact of radiation therapy varies for each patient, and treatment decisions should be made in consultation with a multidisciplinary healthcare team. The overall goal is to tailor the treatment plan to the individual's specific circumstances, aiming for the best possible outcome while managing potential side effects.

The goal of radiation therapy in treating liver cancer is to use targeted doses of radiation to destroy or damage cancer cells, ultimately shrinking or controlling the growth of tumours. Radiation therapy is a localized treatment, meaning it specifically targets the area where cancer is present. It can be used in different ways for liver cancer:

Curative Intent (Radical Radiation Therapy): In some cases, radiation therapy is used with curative intent, aiming to eliminate the cancer. This is more likely in cases where the tumor is confined to the liver and surgery is not a feasible option.

Palliative Care: In cases where a cure may not be achievable, radiation therapy can be used to relieve symptoms and improve the quality of life. This is known as palliative radiation therapy. It can help alleviate pain, reduce the size of tumors, and manage other symptoms associated with liver cancer.

Before or After Surgery: Radiation therapy may be used before surgery (neoadjuvant therapy) to shrink tumors and make them easier to remove, or after surgery (adjuvant therapy) to kill any remaining cancer cells.

Combination with Other Treatments: Radiation therapy is often used in combination with other treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, or targeted therapies to enhance the overall effectiveness of the treatment plan.

Liver cancer can be primary (originating in the liver) or secondary (resulting from the spread of cancer from other organs). The decision to use radiation therapy depends on various factors, including the type and stage of liver cancer, the location and size of tumors, the patient's overall health, and the goal of treatment (curative or palliative).

Biodosimetry

Blood transfusions, protection from infection in damaged organs, and possibly the use of newer stimulants to blood formation can save many victims i

Platelet Count

Yes

A great place to start the pursuit of a degree in Radiation Therapy is the community college system. Today, there are many community colleges that have cooperative programs with affiliate colleges, universities, and hospital schools in the allied health fields. Stop by your community college and ask to speak with an Enrolment Specialist and ask about any cooperative programs in Radiation Therapy. If your home county community college does not have it, check with the community colleges in neighbouring counties. You may also want to consider Nuclear Medicine Technology, or an Amplified Radiography Program. Viper1 In the UK to be a Therapeutic Radiographer you need a Bachelors degree or a Higher Level Diploma from a university. The best schools are the ones that are associated with the National Health Service, and the larger city hospitals such as London, Manchester, and Leeds. There are not many centres in the UK where you can have radiotherapy (radiation therapy) in the UK so you want to attend a university where there are large facilities at your disposal.

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High doses of radiation therapy are used to destroy cancer cells. Side effects come from damage to healthy cells and tissues near the treatment area. Major advanced radiation therapy have made it more precise.

Common side effects of radiation therapy include:

Skin problems: Who receive radiation therapy experience dryness, itching, blistering, or peeling. Side effects depend on which part of the body experienced radiation therapy.

Fatigue: Fatigue describes feeling tired or exhausted almost all the time. Your level of fatigue often depends on your treatment plan.

Long-term side effects: Side effects gone after treatment. But some continue, come back, or develop later. These are called late effects. The risk of this late effect is low. And the risk is often smaller than the benefit of treating the primary, existing cancer.

Side effects depend on the type and location:

Head and neck: Dry mouth, Mouth and gum sores, Difficulty swallowing, Stiffness in the jaw, Nausea, Hair loss, A type of swelling called lymphedema.

Chest: Difficulty swallowing, Shortness of breath, Breast or nipple soreness, Shoulder stiffness.

A small group of women undergoing treatment for uterine cancer noticed improvements in their appetities and sense of well being, and less severe nausea associated with radiation therapy.

Getting radiation treatment generally does not make you radioactive. The treatment bombards the tumor with radiation which does its thing and goes on its way - passing on through the body.

The EFFECTS (or side-effects) of radiation treatments persist for a while though. Hair should start to regrow within a few months. Nausea should subside within a few days. Skin irritation may take longer but usually within a few weeks it should subside. Delayed (sub-acute) reactions including loss of appetite, sleepiness, lack of energy, as well as an increase in pre-existing neurologic symptoms may crop up some time between a few weeks and 3 months after treatment but usually clear up within 6 weeks (although sometimes some of them may persist for several months).

5 fractions

If you lose blood you instantly get blood back. This is true. Your heart beats limit is infinte so when you lose blood it always copys it in a second.

Iodine-131 is not natural, matter of fact it is a synthetically produced isotope (im doing this for my science assignment aswell)

There are three options for treatment of ovarian cancer. First, there is surgery to remove affected tissue. Second, there is chemotherapy. Third, there is radiation.

There are three main divisions of radiation therapy, based on the source generating the rays: 1. Radiation (xrays, gamma rays, beta rays) produced from a valve excited with high voltage. These are only around when the current is on, just as an electromagnet has no magnetism when switched off. 2. Radiation produced by a radio-active source such as radio-active cobalt. These may emit activity for thousands of years, and can't be 'turned off'. The source is enclosed in a lead-lined box and can only be 'stopped' by closing a lead shutter. This is like a light bulb continuously burning, but emitting no light if the door is closed. 3. Radiation from tiny needles containing radium inserted in the body. I'm not sure whether you mean (a) standing close to the patient during treatment or (b) standing close to the patient after treatment has finished. Only in case 3 can you get any radiation from the patient after treatment, and if a partner may be advised not to share a bed until the needles are removed. In the other cases, it is unlikely that you would be allowed close during treatment. Radioactive tracers, e.g. drinks given to test thyroid function, involve a minute and harmless amount of radiation.

Yes, nuclear radiation can affect the lungs. The radiation can be cancerous and dangerous, so try not to breathe too much of it.

Patients receiving internal radiation therapy do become temporarily radioactive