Radiation Oncology

Radiotherapy in indore

Cancer is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the world. According to a study conducted by National Cancer Registry Programme in India, the incidence of cancer stood at 100.4 per 1 lakh persons implying that one out of every nine persons is likely to develop some form of cancer during his/her lifetime. Causes of increased incidence of cancer have been attributed to increased consumption of fast food and leading a sedentary lifestyle, among other genetic and spontaneous reasons.

There are many forms of treatment for cancer. One such area of treatment involves the use of "radiation therapy", known as radiation oncology, under the umbrella of oncology treatments. Radiation oncology makes use of high-energy beams and X-rays by focusing such beams at the place of tumours or cancerous cells to remove them completely or reduce the intensity. Oftentimes, radiation therapy or radiotherapy may be used in combination with another form of cancer treatment, such as surgical intervention or chemotherapy.

Cancer can be benign or malignant, which can be determined through biopsy. Malignant cancer is harder to treat due to its nature of spreading to different areas of the body. Such type of cancer requires the use of radiation therapy to limit the spread of cancer by killing the cancerous cells through radiation.

What happens in Radiation Therapy?

Radiotherapy targets cancerous and malignant cells and destroys the DNA of such cells in order to kill them completely or slow down their growth. Through carefully targeted high-energy radiation, the genetic material is damaged, and as a result, most cancerous cells die or become incapacitated, limiting their multiplying capability. Based on the type, extent of spread, and overall health condition of the patient, Radiation therapy may be used alone or in combination with other forms of treatment, which will be decided by the supervising Oncologist. Our Radiation oncology specialists may recommend one of the following types of radiation therapy:

• External-beam Radiation Therapy

External-beam radiation therapy is one of the most common types of cancer treatment. It makes use of a machine from outside the body focused only on the tumour or cancerous cells, although it may have a slight chance of damaging surrounding areas of healthy cells. Although patients may experience some side effects of radiation therapy, those side effects may subside over a period of time.

When radiotherapy has been chosen as suitable for treatment, five sessions may be scheduled in a week. Each radiotherapy session lasts for about 15 minutes. Depending on the extent to which the cancer has spread, the frequency of sessions may be increased or decreased. During a typical session of external-beam radiation therapy, the following equipment may be used:

• X-ray machines
• Proton beam machines
• Cobalt-60 machines
• Neutron beam machines
• Linear accelerator
• Gamma knife

A Gamma knife is typically used for the treatment of brain cancer so that only targeted tumours are destroyed without damaging the surrounding healthy cells. External-beam radiation therapy machines precisely target body areas without physical contact, using focused radiation.

• Internal Radiation Therapy

Also called "brachytherapy", internal radiation therapy makes use of radiation material encapsulated in a capsule or other implant item. Usually, during such treatment, the radiation source is placed within a close range of the tumour. It is useful in the treatment of cervical and rectal cancer as well as throat cancer and tumours in the eyes. 

During internal radiation therapy, an applicator or catheter, which is usually a metallic or plastic device, may be used to deliver the radiation. The applicator is inserted inside the affected body part and is suitable for treatment in the body cavities. Radiation therapy can also be administered intravenously, delivering radiation material directly into the bloodstream.

The patient is under continuous supervision and monitoring to ensure a proper sequence of treatment and that no radiation particle is left inside the body after radiotherapy is over.

What kind of Radiation Treatments are available?

CARE CHL Hospital, Indore, offers a comprehensive, all-around treatment of cancer using state-of-the-art, technologically advanced equipment following international standards of quality and patient care. With round-the-clock support from an assisting team of medical workers, our team of Radiation Oncologists make the best group of cancer specialists in India. Treatment options are planned in detail with the patient depending upon the type, extent of spread, and overall health condition of the patient to provide them with the best comprehensive cancer treatment and care specially designed for every individual patient.

What are the side effects of Radiation Therapy?

Since radiation therapy is a targeted treatment, it may not trigger typical side effects in all parts of the body. However, some general side effects have been observed in patients receiving radiotherapy. Such side effects include, but are not limited to:

• Skin changes- Dryness, itching, blistering, or peeling of the skin at the site of radiation – usually goes away after treatment is completed.
• Fatigue- This is the most common side effect of cancer treatment and may depend upon the type of treatment given. If both chemotherapy and radiation therapy are applied, a patient may experience more fatigue than a standalone treatment.

When radiation therapy has been given to specific parts of the body, the surrounding areas may show some side effects as well. Some area-specific side effects include:

• Head and neck- In case of brain cancer or throat cancer, or in any area around the mouth, patients may experience dry mouth, sores in mouth and gums, jaw stiffness, nausea, hair loss, tooth decay, and swallowing difficulties.

• Chest- Patients with lung cancer and/or breast cancer may experience shortness of breath, shoulder stiffness, nipple and breast soreness, cough and fever, swallowing difficulties, and radiation fibrosis.

• Stomach and abdomen- In cases of radiation therapy provided in areas around the stomach, patients may experience nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, bowel cramps, and irregular bowel movements.

• Pelvis- If patients get cervical cancer or prostate cancer, they are likely to experience irregular bowel movements, incontinence, rectal bleeding, bladder irritation, erectile dysfunction, low sperm count, changes in menstruation, and infertility.

Why Choose CARE CHL Hospitals?

At CARE CHL Hospital, Indore, we offer a broad spectrum of therapeutic and surgical treatments for cancer with top-tier rehabilitation during the recovery phase. Our oncology specialists have many years of experience and astute clinical acumen in treating various kinds of cancer in patients of all age groups. Our state-of-the-art laboratory equipment and highly skilled support staff guarantee comprehensive cancer care closely supervised by cancer specialists. We prioritize swift cancer diagnosis, detection, and timely treatment, ensuring prompt action for our patients.

References:

https://journals.lww.com/ijmr/Fulltext/2022/10000/Cancer_incidence_estimates_for_2022___projection.6.aspx#:~:text=Results%3A,in%20males%20and%20females%2C%20respectively

https://www.webmd.com/cancer/radiation-oncology