Radiation Oncology

Usually there is no painful or any particularly invasive procedure involved in radiotherapy. In case you feel any discomfort or pain during the procedure, you should immediately inform your radiation team.

Side effects during radiation therapy are usually depend on the area receiving radiation therapy. For instance, patient who is receiving radiation in the head may have hair loss, while radiation to the abdomen area may have nausea, diarrhea.

Other possible side effects include:

• Skin problems like redness, itchy skin
• Fatigue
• Loss of appetite
• Hair loss in the treatment area
• Diarrhoea

• Take a healthy diet before and after the radiation therapy
• Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol during the treatment
• Take good care of overall health
• Follow all the instructions of oncologists

Radiotherapy uses high energy rays (x-rays, gamma rays, photons, ionizing radiations, etc.) which target at the tumor location and kill or inhibit the growth of cancer cells.

Radiotherapy can be given using machines either using an external internal device. Depending on the location, size and type of cancer, radiation therapy can be given using a combination of techniques. Radiation therapy can be administered in two ways, externally and internally. In external beam radiation therapy, direct high-energy X-rays are targeted at the cancer site whereas in internal radiation therapy (or brachytherapy), radioactive sources (for example, radioactive seeds or pellets) are placed inside your body. There is one more way of administering radiotherapy, i.e., systemic radiotherapy, wherein radioactive drugs are given orally or injected into a blood vessel (vein) which then travels throughout patient’s body.

It is advised better to avoid any vacation plans or such sort gaps in between your radiation treatments to obtain the optimal outcomes if radiation is delivered in succession. Unless there is any critical medical reason or family emergency, you should not delay or postpone your radiotherapy in between. Breaks in treatment are not in the patient’s best interest, unless there is a family crisis or medical reason. Discuss vacation plans with your doctor early in planning.

• Take good care of yourself before, during and after your treatment.
• Side effects of radiotherapy are not long lasting and takes around 4 – 8 weeks to resolve after stopping your treatment.
• Switch to a healthy, well-balanced and nutritious diet.
• Avoid drinking alcohol and tobacco use.

Radiation therapy does not involve any surgical incision; thus, most patients do not experience pain. However, certain patients may have mild to moderate discomfort when high-energy radiations contact the skin.

You should always mention about your current medications to your doctor. Your doctor will review your current medications, which usually can be continued throughout your treatment unless it interferes your radiation therapy.