Radiotherapy and Cancer Treatment

Definition and Purpose

• Radiotherapy: a cancer treatment that uses high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells or slow their growth
• Also known as radiation therapy
• Goal: to cure cancer, relieve symptoms, or improve quality of life

Types of Radiotherapy

• External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT):
  • Uses a machine outside the body to direct radiation beams at the tumor
  • Can be further divided into:
    • 3D Conformal Radiation Therapy (3D-CRT): uses CT scans to create 3D images of the tumor
    • Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT): uses multiple beams of varying intensity to target the tumor
    • Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT): delivers high doses of radiation in a few fractions
• Internal Radiation Therapy (Brachytherapy):
  • Involves placing a small amount of radioactive material inside the body, near the tumor
  • Can be temporary or permanent
• Systemic Radiotherapy:
  • Uses radioactive substances that travel through the bloodstream to reach the cancer cells
  • Examples: radioiodine therapy for thyroid cancer, radiolabeled antibodies for lymphoma

Side Effects and Risks

• Acute Side Effects:
  • Fatigue
  • Skin changes (redness, dryness, itching)
  • Hair loss
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Diarrhea
• Late Side Effects:
  • Infertility
  • Secondary cancers
  • Organ damage (e.g., heart, lung, or kidney damage)
• Individualized Treatment Planning:
  • Helps minimize side effects and risks
  • Takes into account the patient's medical history, tumor location, and overall health

Benefits and Advantages

• Effective in Treating Various Cancers:
  • Brain, breast, lung, prostate, and cervical cancers, among others
• Pain Relief:
  • Can help alleviate cancer-related pain
• Non-Invasive:
  • Does not require surgery or hospitalization
• Concurrent with Other Treatments:
  • Can be used in combination with chemotherapy, surgery, or hormone therapy

Radiotherapy Overview

• Definition: a cancer treatment using high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells or slow their growth
• Also known as radiation therapy
• Goal: to cure cancer, relieve symptoms, or improve quality of life

Types of Radiotherapy

• External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT) uses a machine outside the body to direct radiation beams at the tumor
• EBRT subtypes:
• 3D Conformal Radiation Therapy (3D-CRT) uses CT scans to create 3D images of the tumor
• Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) uses multiple beams of varying intensity to target the tumor
• Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT) delivers high doses of radiation in a few fractions
• Internal Radiation Therapy (Brachytherapy) involves placing a small amount of radioactive material inside the body, near the tumor
• Systemic Radiotherapy uses radioactive substances that travel through the bloodstream to reach the cancer cells
• Examples of Systemic Radiotherapy: radioiodine therapy for thyroid cancer, radiolabeled antibodies for lymphoma

Side Effects and Risks

• Acute Side Effects:
  • Fatigue
  • Skin changes (redness, dryness, itching)
  • Hair loss
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Diarrhea
• Late Side Effects:
  • Infertility
  • Secondary cancers
  • Organ damage (e.g., heart, lung, or kidney damage)
• Individualized Treatment Planning helps minimize side effects and risks by considering the patient's medical history, tumor location, and overall health

Benefits and Advantages

• Effective in treating various cancers, including brain, breast, lung, prostate, and cervical cancers
• Provides pain relief by alleviating cancer-related pain
• Non-invasive, does not require surgery or hospitalization
• Can be used in combination with chemotherapy, surgery, or hormone therapy