Questions About Cancer

The most common form of radiation is external beam radiation therapy. In this type of treatment, the beams from one machine to focus specifically on the area to be treated. Radiotherapists trace marks on the skin indicating the places to which should be directed rays. Radiotherapy is a painless, but it requires to stay perfectly still for several minutes while administering the radiation. Patients with breast cancer treated with radiation therapy, should also maintain the arm in the correct position during treatment-which can be somewhat uncomfortable. External radiotherapy does not make a person radioactive, so there is no problem when other people are around once the radiation therapy session.

Sometimes after a lumpectomy, radiation therapy is internal rather than external. Internal radiation therapy involves the application of radioactive material contained in a thin metal wires or tubes that are implanted within the breast during a minor operation. These implants are then removed after a short period of time without leaving any other radioactive material. This type of radiation therapy requires hospitalization. (more…)

Radiation therapy (also known as radiation, X-ray therapy, or irradiation) uses high-energy radiation to destroy cancer cells. These rays typically comes from a machine more powerful than standard X-ray equipment used in hospitals. The X-ray beam is directed with great precision to the location of the tumor to avoid damaging effects on other body parts.

Radiation therapy is frequently administered as supportive therapy after breast cancer surgery to increase the probability to eliminate any remaining cancer cells. Support This treatment is called adjuvant radiotherapy. For example, after a definition removing only the tumor, adjuvant radiotherapy can be administered in the remaining breast tissue. In addition, radiation therapy can be administered in the thoracic region after a mastectomy definition. If the lymph nodes are not removed when performing the surgery, radiation therapy can also be given in the axillary area. (more…)