Introduction to Radiation Therapy
Radiation Treatment at Northwest Cancer Clinic
Radiation therapy is a commonly used tool to treat many types of cancer. It may be used as the only therapy or it is sometimes given in combination with surgery or chemotherapy. The goal of radiation treatment is to deliver high doses of radiation to cancer cells while limiting injury to surrounding normal tissues.
Fortunately, in contrast to cancer cells, normal cells have the capacity to repair themselves after radiation so long as they are not exposed to too much radiation at once. This is the reason for radiation therapy being given over several weeks rather than all at once. The regenerative characteristic of normal cells, coupled with improvements in techniques to target the cancer and limit the dose to normal tissue, has ushered in a modern era of radiation therapy with excellent cancer cure rates and limited complications.
In the case of prostate cancer, radiation treatments must be administered in a way that adequately covers the entire prostate with an accurate, effective dose of radiation. This is challenging due to the fact that prostates are irregularly shaped and varying in size. Inadequate or inaccurate treatment will lead to survival of cancer cells in the prostate (termed “local failure”) or excessive dose to normal tissues such as a the hip bones, bladder, urethra, rectum, and nerve bundles which are involved in normal urinary, bowel, and sexual function and lie in close proximity to the prostate gland.
Radiation can be delivered to the prostate from the outside which is called External Beam Radiation, or by implanting radioactive sources within the prostate, called Brachytherapy. Depending on the aggressiveness and stage of the cancer, either approach may be preferred and sometimes the two approaches are combined.
Brachytherapy
Brachytherapy, pronounced “brack-ay-therapy” (from the Greek word brachy, meaning “short distance”) is a treatment that involves placing radioactive material inside or near a tumor. This allows radiation to conform to the size and shape of the tumor or organ while minimizing radiation to the rest of the body.
Radiation Treatment Therapy
Radiation therapy is a commonly used tool to treat many types of cancer. It may be used as the only therapy or it is sometimes given in combination with surgery or chemotherapy. The goal of radiation treatment is to deliver high doses of radiation to cancer cells while limiting injury to surrounding normal tissues.
Cutting Edge Radiation Treatment
Oncology Las Vegas continually invests in cutting edge radiation treatment technology, keeping patients close to home for their treatment and care and serving as a referral center for patients throughout the country. Industry leader, Varian Medical Systems along with Siemens Technology, has developed our treatment systems.
Benign Diseases Treated with Radiation Therapy
Common Benign Diseases Treated with Low-dose Radiation Therapy: Dupuytren’s (Palmar fibromatosis), Ledderhose (Plantar fibromatosis), Plantar fasciitis, Arthritis, Bursitis, Tennis Elbow/Golfer’s Elbow, Trigeminal Neuralgia, Acoustic Neuroma, Peyronie’s and more.
Minimizing the Side Effects of Prostate Radiation Therapy
Radiation Therapy, a standard form of care for treating prostate cancer, uses energy beams to destroy and stop the spread of cancer cells. These high-energy beams can reach and negatively affect healthy tissue surrounding the prostate. Due to its close proximity to the prostate, the rectum is the primary organ at risk for radiation exposure.
Northwest Cancer Clinic
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