Radiotherapy is a cancer treatment method based on the use of ionizing radiation. It was first used in 1886 against an Austrian girl. The impact was successful. After the procedure, the patient lived for more than 70 years. Today, the treatment method under consideration is widespread. So, radiation therapy - what is it, and what consequences can a person who has been exposed to radiation have?
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Radiation therapy - what is it?
Classical radiation therapy in oncology is carried out using a linear accelerator and is a directed effect of radiation on tumor cells. The basis of its action is the ability of ionizing radiation to influence water molecules, forming free radicals. The latter violate the DNA structure of the altered cell, and makes its division impossible.
It is impossible to outline the boundaries of radiation so precisely that healthy cells are not affected during the procedure. However, normally functioning structures divide slowly. They are less susceptible to radiation and recover much faster after radiation damage. The tumor is not capable of this.
It is interesting to know: the effectiveness of radiotherapy increases in proportion to the tumor growth rate. Slowly growing neoplasms react poorly to ionizing radiation.
Classification and dose
Radiotherapy is classified by type of radiation and by the method of its supply to the tissues of the neoplasm.
Radiation may be:
- Corpuscular - consists of microparticles and, in turn, is divided into alpha type, beta type, neutron, proton, formed by carbon ions.
- Wave - formed by x-rays or gamma radiation.
According to the method of supplying radiation to the tumor, therapy is divided into:
- remote;
- contact.
Remote techniques can be static or mobile. In the first case, the emitter is stationary, in the second - it rotates around the patient. Mobile methods of external exposure are more sparing, as they affect healthy tissues less. A sparing effect is achieved due to varying angles of incidence of the beam.
Contact radiation therapy can be intracavitary or intra-wound. In this case, the emitter is introduced into the patient’s body and is brought directly to the pathological focus. This can significantly reduce the burden on healthy tissue.
During treatment, the patient receives a certain dose of radiation. Radiation load is measured in gree (Gy) and is selected before the start of therapy. This indicator depends on many factors: the patient's age, his general condition, the type and depth of the tumor. The final figure varies in each case. For example, the burden required to treat breast cancer varies from 45 to 60 Gy.
The calculated dose is too large and cannot be given simultaneously. To make the load permissible, specialists carry out fractionation - dividing the required amount of radiation by the estimated number of procedures. Typically, the course is carried out for 2-6 weeks, 5 days a week. If the patient does not tolerate treatment, the daily dose is divided into two procedures - morning and evening.
Indications for appointment in oncology
The general indication for the appointment of radiation therapy is the presence of malignant neoplasms. Radiation is considered an almost universal method for treating tumors. The impact may be independent or auxiliary.
Radiation therapy performs an auxiliary function if it is prescribed after surgical removal of the focus of pathology. The purpose of the irradiation is the elimination of the changed cells remaining in the postoperative zone. The method is used with or without chemotherapy.
As an independent therapy, the radiological method is used:
- to remove small, rapidly growing tumors;
- inoperable tumors of the nervous system (radio knife);
- as a method of palliative treatment (reducing the size of the neoplasm and alleviating the symptoms in hopeless patients).
In addition to this, radiation therapy for skin cancer is prescribed. This approach avoids the appearance of scars at the site of the tumor, which is inevitable if the traditional surgical method is used.
How is the course of treatment
A preliminary decision on the need for radiotherapy is made by the doctor involved in the treatment of oncology. He directs the patient to a radiologist consultation. The latter chooses the method and determines the features of treatment, explains to the patient the possible risks and complications.
After consultation, a person undergoes computed tomography, with the help of which the exact localization of the tumor is determined and its three-dimensional image is created. The patient should remember the exact position of his body on the table. It is in this position that therapy will be carried out.
In the radiological room, the patient enters in loose hospital clothing. It is located on the table, after which the experts put the equipment in the necessary position and put marks on the patient's body. In subsequent procedures, they will be used to configure equipment.
The procedure itself does not require any action from the patient. A person lies in a predetermined position for 15-30 minutes, after which he is allowed to stand up. If the condition does not allow this, transportation is carried out on a gurney.
Note: to fix the patient's body in a given position, various external structures can be used: head masks, Shants collars, mattresses and pillows.
The consequences of radiation therapy and side effects
As a rule, the radiation dose is selected in such a way as to minimize the effect on healthy tissues. Therefore, the negative effects of therapy occur only with repeated prolonged sessions. One of the common complications of this is radiation burns, which can have a 1st or 2nd degree of severity. Treatment of uninfected burns is carried out using regenerating ointments (Actovegin, Solcoseryl), infected ones - using antibiotics and local anti-microbial agents (Levomekol).
Another common side effect of radiotherapy is nausea due to high doses of radiation. You can reduce it if you drink hot tea with lemon. The medication for correcting the condition is Cerucal. Other effects are less common.
Patients complain of:
- fatigue
- allopecia (hair loss);
- swelling;
- skin irritation;
- inflammation of the mucous membranes.
The side effects listed on the list are poorly treatable if it is carried out against the background of an incomplete course of radiotherapy. They pass independently some time after the treatment is completed.
Nutrition for radiation therapy
Exposure to radiation leads to the gradual destruction of tumor tissue. Decay products enter the bloodstream and cause intoxication. To remove it, as well as minimize the negative effects of procedures, you need to eat right.
Nutrition during radiation therapy should be carried out in accordance with the principles of healthy eating. The patient should drink up to 2 liters of liquid (compotes, juices, fruit drinks) per day. Food is consumed fractionally, up to 6 times a day. The basis of the diet should be protein foods and dishes rich in pectin.
Recommended foods include:
- egg;
- sunflower seeds;
- sea fish;
- cottage cheese;
- fruits and vegetables;
- berries;
- greenery.
It is interesting to know: radiotherapy will be easier to tolerate if the patient daily eats a large baked apple with honey.
Rehabilitation period
The recovery period usually goes away without the use of drugs. If the treatment was successful, and the tumor was completely removed, the patient is recommended to lead a healthy lifestyle: giving up bad habits, psychologically comfortable environment, adequate rest time, good nutrition, moderate physical activity. In such conditions, rehabilitation takes several months. During this time, a person visits a doctor several times and undergoes an examination.
If the therapy was carried out with a palliative purpose, there is no question of recovery as such. The patient is prescribed antibacterial agents, analgesics, provide him with good nutrition. It is better if the person will be surrounded by relatives and relatives, and not in a hospital.
Radiation therapy is a modern and highly effective way to treat tumors. With the early detection of a pathological focus, radiation can completely remove it, with inoperable neoplasms - to alleviate the patient's condition. However, this method should be treated with caution. Its improper use negatively affects the patient's well-being.
