Radiation Therapy

Definition Radiation therapy is one of many types of cancer treatments that uses beams of extreme energy to kill cancer cells. Radiation therapy gets its power from X-rays, but the power can also come from protons or other types of energy.

Background Info Radiation Therapy (currently referred to as Radiation Oncology) was born shortly after the discovery of x-rays in 1895 by the German physicist Wilhelm Roentgen. The radiotherapy that is most authorized can use a lot of radiation, including alpha, beta, and gamma radiation. Most forms of radiation therapy can be categorized as external or internal. External therapy uses some type of source the source to charge cancers at various deepness within the body. Internal therapy uses the insertion of a radioactive source into some portion of the body where a cancer is located. Specialized forms of radiotherapy are also available for treatment of certain types of cancer. For example, proton therapy makes use of a beam of protons for the treatment of breast cancer, brain cancers, and rectal cancers.

Facts Radiation therapy is also known as radiotherapy, radiation treatment, x ray therapy, cobalt therapy, and electron beam therapy. Studies have made it even more useful for patients and have cut down on some of the nasty side effects. Radioactive implants allow delivery of radiation to restrict areas, with less injury to surrounding tissues than radiation from an external source that must pass through those tissues. Proton radiation also causes less injury to surrounding tissues than accustomed photon radiation because proton rays can be more tightly focused. New research with radioimmunotherapy and neutron capture therapy may provide ways to direct radiation only at cancer cells, and in the case of radioimmunotherapy, to cancer cells that have spread throughout the body.

Video Link Radiation Therapy

"Advantages of stereotactic body radiation therapy remain questionable." Reuters Health - The Doctor's Channel Daily Newscast Student Resources in Context. Web. 23 Mar Work Cited Mayo Clinic. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, Web. 23 Mar "Radiation therapy." World of Health. Gale, Student Resources in Context. Web. 23 Mar The History of Radiation Therapy. University of California, San Diego., n.d. Web. 23 Mar "Radiotherapy." UXL Science. U*X*L, Student Resources in Context. Web. 23 Mar