Radiation Therapy Also called: Brachytherapy, Radiotherapy Summary Radiation therapy is a cancer treatment. It uses high doses of radiation to kill cancer cells and stop them from spreading. About half of all cancer patients receive it. The radiation may be external, from special machines, or internal, from radioactive substances that a doctor places inside your body. The type of radiation therapy you receive depends on many factors, including The type of cancer The size of the cancer The cancer’s location in the body How close the cancer is to normal tissues that are sensitive to radiation How far into the body the radiation needs to travel Your general health and medical history Whether you will have other types of cancer treatment Other factors, such as your age and other medical conditions Radiation therapy can damage normal cells as well as cancer cells. Treatment must be carefully planned to minimize side effects. Common side effects include skin changes and fatigue. Other side effects depend on the part of your body being treated. Sometimes radiation is used with other treatments, like surgery or chemotherapy. NIH: National Cancer Institute National Cancer Institute Encyclopedia Abdominal radiation – discharge Brain radiation – discharge Breast radiation – discharge Chest radiation – discharge Mouth and neck radiation – discharge Pelvic (between the hips) radiation – discharge Proton therapy Radiation therapy – what to ask your doctor Stereotactic radiosurgery Stereotactic radiosurgery – discharge Stereotactic Radiosurgery – Gamma Knife Videos and Tutorials Advancements in Radiation Oncology OR-Live Find an Expert American Cancer Society American Cancer Society American College of Radiology Accredited Facility Search American College of Radiology National Cancer Institute National Cancer Institute RadiologyInfo Array Specifics Brachytherapy Array External Beam Therapy (EBT) Array Fiducial Marker Placement Array Gamma Knife Array Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) Array Linear Accelerator (LINAC) Array Proton Therapy Array Radiation Therapy: Additional Treatment Options American Society for Radiation Oncology Radioimmunotherapy Array Stereotactic Radiosurgery and Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT) Array Clinical Trials ClinicalTrials.gov: Radiotherapy National Institutes of Health Array Head and Neck Radiation Treatment and Your Mouth National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research Managing Radiation Therapy Side Effects: What to Do about Changes When You Urinate National Cancer Institute Managing Radiation Therapy Side Effects: What to Do about Feeling Sick to Your Stomach and Throwing Up (Nausea and Vomiting) National Cancer Institute Managing Radiation Therapy Side Effects: What to Do When You Have Loose Stools (Diarrhea) National Cancer Institute Oral mucositis Radiation enteritis Radiation therapy Radiation therapy — skin care Living With How Should I Care for Myself During Radiation Therapy? American Society for Radiation Oncology Related Issues Low Blood Cell Counts: Side Effect of Cancer Treatment Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Oral Complications of Chemotherapy and Head/Neck Radiation (PDQ) National Cancer Institute Radiation Injury to the Brain International Radiosurgery Support Association Radiation Oncology Treatment Team American Society for Radiation Oncology Radiation Therapy: Preventing and Managing Side Effects American Cancer Society Journal Articles Radiation Therapy Teenagers Radiation Therapy Nemours Foundation Start Here Radiation Therapy National Cancer Institute Radiation Therapy — What It Is, How It Helps American Cancer Society Radiation Therapy and You: Support for People with Cancer National Cancer Institute Radiation Therapy for Cancer National Cancer Institute Understanding Radiation Therapy: A Guide for Patients and Families American Cancer Society Children Radiation Therapy (For Parents) Nemours Foundation Patient Handouts What to Know about Brachytherapy (A Type of Internal Radiation Therapy) National Cancer Institute What to Know about External Beam Radiation Therapy National Cancer Institute Latest News High-Dose Radiation May Be No Better for Low-Risk Prostate Cancer HealthDay Radiation May Help After Surgery for ‘Soft-Tissue’ Cancers HealthDay Shorter, Intensive Radiation Works for Prostate Cancer HealthDay Distance Matters for Quality Rectal Cancer Care HealthDay
