Radiation Therapy
The use of high-energy x-rays or radioactive materials to destroy cancer.
Radiation therapy, also called radiotherapy, is a safe, effective treatment option that uses high energy x-rays, gamma rays or radioactive materials to damage and destroy the rapidly dividing cancerous cells.
Radiation therapy is a common type of cancer treatment. In fact, more than half of all cancer patients receive radiation at some point in their course of treatment. It may be the only form of treatment you need, or it might be combined with other treatments. Radiation therapy is used to:
- Destroy cancer cells
- Shrink a tumor so that it can be more easily removed by your surgical oncologist
- Eliminate remaining cancer cells after surgery
- Reduce the risk of recurrence
- Slow the growth or shrink tumors to alleviate pain or other problems.
- Cure many types of cancers without the need of any other therapy
Radiation is delivered internally or externally using one of the following methods:
- External Beam: A machine directs high-energy beams of radiation through the skin to the cancer.
- Brachytherapy: Radioactive sources are placed inside or near the tumor.
- Radiopharmaceuticals: A radioactive drug travels through the body, finds and sticks to the cancerous tissue and delivers radiation.
- Gamma Knife: Radiosurgery that uses precisely guided radiation to destroy tumors.
Cancer Care Northwest’s radiation oncologists utilize sophisticated tools and techniques that deliver the radiation dose directly to the cancer target while avoiding normal tissue. One of the most advanced forms of radiation treatment used today is Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy. This type of treatment outlines the tumor’s shape and allows radiation to target the tumor. This focused approach reduces the amount of radiation that affects healthy, surrounding tissue.