Radiotherapy for kidney cancer...!!!
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Radiotherapy treats cancer by using high-energy x-rays, which destroy the cancer cells while doing as little harm as possible to normal cells.
Radiation therapy usually does not work for kidney cancer.
Though it is not considered a primary form of therapy, radiation can be used in the treatment of kidney cancer that has metastasized to the bone, brain or spine.It may be used to control symptoms – relief from pain, for example.
The treatment is given in the hospital radiotherapy department as an outpatient. Radiotherapy is often given as sessions called fractions. When used to relieve symptoms, it’s usually given for a few minutes every day for a few days. Your doctor will discuss the treatment with you.
External Beam Radiation:
This type of radiation therapy involves lying on a table while a machine delivers a beam of radiation from the machine, through the skin, to the tumor. The most common machine is called a linear accelerator. The exact location for the beam to “hit” is determined by calculations during the “simulation” visit prior to the initiation of radiation therapy. The radiation is given over several days (often between 4 and 14 days), with each appointment lasting about 30 minutes. The actual dose of radiation is given for seconds to minutes, but it takes time to get you and the machine set up to deliver the precise dose of radiation ordered by your doctor. The total number of days is determined by the amount of radiation that your doctor wants to use. Some areas of your body are more sensitive and will not require as much radiation as others.
External beam radiation therapy is used commonly to treat bone metastasis causing pain or areas of bone that have been weakened by the cancer (to prevent the bone from breaking). These areas include the ribs, femur (the upper leg bone), humerus (the upper arm bone), and vertebrae (your backbones). If a fracture (break) occurs, radiation therapy may be given to kill cancer cells in the bone, allowing the fracture to heal. When kidney cancer spreads to the femur or humerus, surgery may be done to insert a metal rod to stabilize the bone with radiation therapy being given following surgery.
Radiation therapy usually does not work for kidney cancer.
Though it is not considered a primary form of therapy, radiation can be used in the treatment of kidney cancer that has metastasized to the bone, brain or spine.It may be used to control symptoms – relief from pain, for example.
The treatment is given in the hospital radiotherapy department as an outpatient. Radiotherapy is often given as sessions called fractions. When used to relieve symptoms, it’s usually given for a few minutes every day for a few days. Your doctor will discuss the treatment with you.
External Beam Radiation:
This type of radiation therapy involves lying on a table while a machine delivers a beam of radiation from the machine, through the skin, to the tumor. The most common machine is called a linear accelerator. The exact location for the beam to “hit” is determined by calculations during the “simulation” visit prior to the initiation of radiation therapy. The radiation is given over several days (often between 4 and 14 days), with each appointment lasting about 30 minutes. The actual dose of radiation is given for seconds to minutes, but it takes time to get you and the machine set up to deliver the precise dose of radiation ordered by your doctor. The total number of days is determined by the amount of radiation that your doctor wants to use. Some areas of your body are more sensitive and will not require as much radiation as others.
External beam radiation therapy is used commonly to treat bone metastasis causing pain or areas of bone that have been weakened by the cancer (to prevent the bone from breaking). These areas include the ribs, femur (the upper leg bone), humerus (the upper arm bone), and vertebrae (your backbones). If a fracture (break) occurs, radiation therapy may be given to kill cancer cells in the bone, allowing the fracture to heal. When kidney cancer spreads to the femur or humerus, surgery may be done to insert a metal rod to stabilize the bone with radiation therapy being given following surgery.
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Side Effects of Radiation Therapy:
Unfortunately, radiation may also damage healthy, normal tissue. Side effects of radiation therapy occur in the area treated, referred to as the “radiation field.” These side effects are temporary and vary depending on the area of the body being treated. One of the most common side effects is dry, irritated (reddened) and sensitive skin. Your radiation oncologist or nurse will provide you with written information and instructions for skin care and other side effects specific to your radiation treatments. The skin may require 6 to 12 months to return to normal.
Constipation or diarrhea may occur if the intestines are in the “radiation field.” Anemia (low hemoglobin), neutropenia (low white blood cell count), and thrombocytopenia (low platelet count) may occur if you are receiving radiation therapy to the pelvic bones or femur. Nausea, vomiting, and urinary discomfort may also occur.
Certain side effects occur during or shortly after the completion of radiation, while other side effects may begin several weeks after you have completed radiation therapy. Fatigue may develop towards the end or shortly after your treatments have finished. Fatigue is not unusual, but it is important to discuss the timing and severity of fatigue with your doctors and nurses. Resting is important, but doctors usually advise patients to stay as active as possible.
It is important to ask questions before treatment starts, at appointments, and during your recovery from radiation in order to ensure that your treatments are effective, side effects are minimal, and that any side effects that develop can be treated early. All of these factors will help you tolerate the treatment with a minimum of side effects and complications.
Below is the video discussing general radiotherapy technique used in cancers ...
Unfortunately, radiation may also damage healthy, normal tissue. Side effects of radiation therapy occur in the area treated, referred to as the “radiation field.” These side effects are temporary and vary depending on the area of the body being treated. One of the most common side effects is dry, irritated (reddened) and sensitive skin. Your radiation oncologist or nurse will provide you with written information and instructions for skin care and other side effects specific to your radiation treatments. The skin may require 6 to 12 months to return to normal.
Constipation or diarrhea may occur if the intestines are in the “radiation field.” Anemia (low hemoglobin), neutropenia (low white blood cell count), and thrombocytopenia (low platelet count) may occur if you are receiving radiation therapy to the pelvic bones or femur. Nausea, vomiting, and urinary discomfort may also occur.
Certain side effects occur during or shortly after the completion of radiation, while other side effects may begin several weeks after you have completed radiation therapy. Fatigue may develop towards the end or shortly after your treatments have finished. Fatigue is not unusual, but it is important to discuss the timing and severity of fatigue with your doctors and nurses. Resting is important, but doctors usually advise patients to stay as active as possible.
It is important to ask questions before treatment starts, at appointments, and during your recovery from radiation in order to ensure that your treatments are effective, side effects are minimal, and that any side effects that develop can be treated early. All of these factors will help you tolerate the treatment with a minimum of side effects and complications.
Below is the video discussing general radiotherapy technique used in cancers ...