Uncovering Facts About a Leading Cancer Treatment: Radiotherapy

MISSION, KS--(Marketwire - Jan 12, 2012) - (Family Features) Forty years ago, President Nixon declared a "War on Cancer." Since then, there have been impressive advances in cancer prevention, detection and treatment, and most importantly, improved survival rates for many types of cancer. People facing a cancer diagnosis today have more options than ever. Patients are now encouraged to talk with their physicians to get the facts about their treatment options in order to be true partners in their care.

For many, radiotherapy will be an option. In fact, nearly two-thirds of all cancer patients will receive radiotherapy as some aspect of their treatment regimen. Thanks to decades of innovation, radiotherapy can now pinpoint a tumor while minimizing exposure of nearby tissues. In fact, when comparing earlier approaches with today's more advanced radiotherapy technologies, studies have shown increased reductions in side effects and improved outcomes for many forms of cancer.

"I see the positive impact of radiotherapy, but I know that many patients still have outdated perceptions," said John J. Kresl M.D., Ph.D., FACRO, managing partner, Radiation Oncologists of Central Arizona. "Today's radiotherapy is an effective treatment for many types of cancer. It was once used only to relieve pain, but is now used more often in the hopes of helping patients become survivors."

Knowing the facts about radiotherapy is the first step in understanding whether it is an option for you or a loved one. Use the following information to talk to your doctor about radiotherapy.

What is radiotherapy? The most commonly used form of radiotherapy, called external beam radiation therapy (EBRT), utilizes targeted x-rays produced by a machine outside of the body. These high-energy beams are precisely controlled by a medical team guided by advanced imaging technologies. Radiotherapy works by damaging cancer cell DNA. This stops tumors from growing further and can make them smaller. Radiotherapy is sometimes used in combination with a chemotherapy regimen to jointly target cancer cells. Radiotherapy is also sometimes used after surgery to kill remaining cancer cells, which may prevent the disease from returning.

Sophisticated technology: Radiotherapy machines are quite large, but the beam they deliver is actually small. Continually advancing hardware and software allows the beam to be precisely shaped to fit the contours of a patient's tumor. This results in delivering the treatment where it is needed while minimizing impact on surrounding healthy tissue.

Radiotherapy and lifestyle: A radiotherapy treatment course often allows patients to go about their daily routine with limited interruption. A course of treatment can involve anywhere from one to 35 separate treatment sessions, delivered on an outpatient basis, with each session taking from 15 minutes to an hour. Some types of radiotherapy use higher doses of radiation per session, resulting in fewer total appointments.

Possible side effects of radiotherapy: Serious side effects can occur and are usually caused by damage to normal cells during the course of treatment. Side effects are typically cumulative, which means they can develop over the course of treatment. They can be minor or severe, and depend on the size and location of the tumor, disease state, general medical condition, and the treatment technique that is used.

Two of the most common side effects associated with radiotherapy are irritation or damage to the skin near the treatment site, and fatigue. Skin irritation may include dryness, itching, peeling, or blistering. Fatigue, for some patients, may mean feeling slightly worn out, while other patients experience severe exhaustion.

Other side effects are usually specific to the type of cancer being treated, such as hair loss or a sore throat when the head and neck region is treated, or urinary problems when the lower abdomen is treated. For more details about the side effects of radiation therapy, patients should talk to their doctors about what may occur during a particular treatment.

Patients should talk to their doctors to learn the facts about radiotherapy. To learn more, they can also visit www.RTanswers.org.

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