Radiation therapy is one of the many therapies available as of 2011 to battle cancer. Radiation therapy uses high-energy doses of radiation to destroy cancer cells. It is often used in conjunction with other treatments, including surgery and chemotherapy, to destroy cancer cells. Radiation therapy can successfully treat breast, prostate, thyroid and many other types of cancer. As with any treatment, however, radiation therapy also has some disadvantages that should be considered.
Limited Damage
Chemotherapy is a systemic treatment that spreads throughout the body, which can result in a number of side effects. While radiation therapy isn't without side effects, damage to the healthy cells in the body can be significantly less with radiation therapy. Radiation therapy is precisely delivered to one particular location, so damage to healthy cells can be limited to just the surrounding area, the CancerQuest website explains.
Effectiveness Against Localized Tumors
Radiation therapy destroys cancer cells that divide quickly, thus helping to stop the spread of cancer at the tumor site and reducing the risk of cancer metastasizing throughout the body. When treatment is started early, radiation therapy can be very effective in stopping cancer. Following surgery, radiation therapy can destroy any remaining cancer cells around the site of the tumor that surgery could not remove.
Limited Effectiveness Against Metastasized Cancers
Radiation therapy may not be effective when used alone against all types of cancers --- particularly cancers that have metastasized throughout the body. Radiation therapy delivers cancer-killing doses of radiation at the tumor site, the National Cancer Institute explains, but doesn't travel throughout the body to destroy cancer cells that have spread as chemotherapy treatment can do.
Long-Term Problems
Although radiation therapy can cause less damage to the body and less-severe side effects, it nevertheless presents risk of both long- and short-term side effects. External beam radiation can cause a skin rash and skin sensitivity, the National Cancer Institute warns. Radiation therapy can also cause problems with tissues, glands or organs near the site of the treatment. Long-term side effects can include the growth of scar tissue, infertility and damage to other areas the body, depending on the location of the radiation treatment. Some people may also develop a secondary cancer as a result of exposure to radiation.
