Radiation, often prescribed as treatment for brain tumors, occurs in stages. During phase one, a radiation oncologist uses X-rays, computed tomography scans and magnetic resonance imaging to plan the course of treatment. Radiation treatments happen during the second stage. Brain radiation treatments last five to seven weeks and are administered almost daily. This treatment kills cancer cells effectively but also damages healthy cells, according to RadiologyInfo. The damage to healthy cells causes the side effects commonly seen with brain...
One way in which lung cancer is commonly treated is through radiation treatments, which are directed at the chest. Although radiation is very effective for treating lung cancer, there are a number of potential side effects.
An acoustic neuroma is a benign tumor that grows on the nerve that connects the inner ear to the brain. It can cause hearing loss, balance problems and ringing in the ears. Radiation therapy, also known as radiosurgery or gamm...
The side effects of radiation treatment tend to be more severe among pediatric patients regardless of where in the body the treatment is administered. These effects can appear shortly after or even as early as during the radiat...
Cancer cells grow much more quickly than the cells around them, which is why radiation can be effective in treating cancer. Still, healthy body cells receive high doses of radiation and can sustain damage in the process, meanin...
Radiation dosage and the course of treatment is less then therapeutic levels and is geared to kill potential cancer cells in the area while sparing healthy brain tissue. Radiation is an effective treatment method to target tumo...
Radiation therapy can be used to treat a variety of cancers--either alone or in combination with other treatments. Radiation can impact the different tissues that are located in the radiation beam range; the amount of damage al...
IMRT is the abbreviation for intensity modulated radiation therapy. IMRT allows the physician to apply a higher-intensity radiation therapy directly to the tumor while limiting the amount of damage to nearby tissues. According ...
Whole or full brain radiation--where the entire brain receives radiation--can be used to treat people with brain cancer or brain metastases. Because the amount of tissue being treated with the radiation is larger with full brai...
The thyroid, a bow-tied shaped gland located at the lower front of the neck, regulates the body's metabolism. Exposure to radiation in the atmosphere or from high doses of radiotherapy is an established cause of thyroid problem...
Radiation therapy is commonly used in treating tumors, says Merck. Unfortunately, radiation sometimes damages the nervous system. The severity of the damage depends on how much radiation was given, and for how long time, was th...
Treatment involves the application of high-energy radiation to lethally damage cancer cells. As a powerful anticancer therapy, radiation treatments are associated with acute and potential long-term side effects. Acute radiation...
Men with prostate cancer may receive one of two types of radiation treatment designed to kill cancer cells; both types can cause short-term and permanent side effects. Brachytherapy is a procedure involving implantation of radi...
Patients with brain cancer or brain metastasis may choose whole brain radiation therapy to help treat these forms of cancer. The side effects of whole brain radiation should be discussed with a medical professional before a pat...
The American Cancer Society estimates the diagnosis of more than 49,000 new cases of head and neck cancer in the United States in 2010, with approximately 70 percent of cases occurring in men. Treatment for head and neck cancer...
Cancer cells are more susceptible to both chemotherapy and radiation therapy, but normal brain cells and other cells in the body can also be affected by these treatments. The side effects of these treatments depend on the dose,...
In some cases, the tumor grows into the brain cavity around the cribiform plate in the frontal fossa. The cribiform plate is the bone that separates the nasal cavity from the brain. Surgical removal of the tumor is the primary ...
Lung radiation treatment is used to treat lung cancers and lung metastases, or cancers that spread to the lungs from other sites. Radiation can also be harmful to normal tissue. There are several possible side effects of lung r...
Treatment for colon cancer typically depends on the stage and extent of disease, and radiation therapy is one commonly used treatment. It may be used alone to treat colon cancer, or combined with chemotherapy, according to the ...
The lymphatic system is responsible for keeping the body free from infection. The treatment of lymphoma is largely dependent upon the type of lymphoma and the stage of the cancer. Radiation treatments are common in the treatmen...
Cancer is commonly treated by a combination of therapies that may include chemotherapy, the use of toxic drugs to kill cancer cells, or radiation therapy, using high-dose radiation. Both chemotherapy and radiation therapy have ...
Radiation therapy utilizes high-energy x-rays directed at the site of cancerous cell growth to destroy these cells. Chest radiation can cause side effects, which should be thoroughly discussed with an oncologist before a patien...
Radiation therapy is a form of cancer treatment that utilizes high energy x-rays to kill and prevent the growth of cancer cells. It is important for women to discuss the potential cervical cancer radiation side effects with an ...
Although radiation is typically highly effective in killing cancer cells in the brain, it may have long-term side effects. These late radiation effects can present six months to many years after radiation therapy to the brain
It can be used by itself or in conjunction with surgery as a therapeutic modality. However, like all medical treatments it has its own side effect profile, which must be weighed by the patient before undergoing therapy.
Cobalt-60 is the most common isotope and is widely utilized in medicine for the treatment of brain tumors and other central nervous system disorders.
Cobalt-60 does emit radiation and must be handled with care. The side effe...
Radiation therapy has been shown to improve survival of patients diagnosed with early stage and late stage lung cancers, according to the book "Clinical Oncology." But treatment by radiation has many short term and long term si...
Radiation is often used in medicine, particularly in the treatment of cancer, where it may cause numerous side effects. Radiation is used in cancer treatment to attack cancer cells and keep them from dividing, but it does not d...
The prostate is a gland in the male reproductive system responsible for the secretion and flow of fluids through the urethra. Changes in the prostate caused by radiation treatments can have side effects not only on the prostate...
Once the radiation treatments are stopped, healthy cellular growth can often continue; however, there can be ongoing side effects from the treatments other than the temporary interruption in cell regeneration.
Some side effects from radiation oncology are temporary. Lost hair may grow back, blotchy skin may clear and a general feeling of strength and well-being may return once radiation treatments are ended. However, radiation which ...
Areas of the bone not actively growing are less affected than areas of growth and regeneration. Once treatment stops, the normal, healthy cell growth should restart, but while treatment is active, side effects are possible.
Radiation works by killing cells that divide rapidly, as cancer cells do, but does not differentiate between fast-dividing cancer cells and fast-dividing healthy cells, which causes various side effects . For lung cancer radiat...
Radiation can be given in two ways: external-beam radiation, where the radiation is aimed toward the cancerous area from a machine; and interstitial radiation, where radioactive pellets are placed directly into the cancer to tr...
According to Breastcancer.org, radiation therapy actually decreases the recurrence of breast cancer by up to 70 percent. There is more than one type of radiation therapy available for the treatment process; therefore, the side ...
Radiation therapy performed near the head or neck can have wide-ranging effects throughout the body. Even though radiation therapy focuses specifically on a certain area of the body, the effects on that part of the body influen...
It's one of the most common types of treatment for cancer, according to the American Cancer Society, and is often used in conjunction with surgery or chemotherapy. Depending on where radiation is given, different bodily side ef...
Since radiation is a local treatment, side effects are usually confined to the area being treated. When it comes to radiation in the brain and head area, early symptoms may appear shortly after treatment has begun and will cont...
Prostate radiation therapy is a common treatment used to shrink tumors or minimize symptoms associated with an enlarged prostate. Radiation therapy for the prostate comes with long-term side effects. Although it's impossible to...
Most people get radiation therapy for brain cancer by an external beam of radiation that is aimed toward the tumor site, according to the American Cancer Society. As with any medical procedure, there are possible side effects, ...
These seeds deliver doses of radiation for several weeks at a time. While brachytherapy can be used for several inoperable cancers, it is mainly used for prostate cancer. There are some side effects that one considering brachyt...
The average chest x-ray, which uses radiation to take an internal picture of the body, exposes a person to the same amount of radiation a person is exposed to naturally in 10 days. This is considered a low dose of radiation, ab...
