How is radiotherapy given Radiotherapy can be given in two ways: from outside or inside the body. External radiotherapy is the most common method of treatment. With this technique, the radiation is directed from a machine at the cancer and surrounding tissue. In internal radiotherapy, radioactive material in sealed applicators are put into your body, on or near the cancer (brachytherapy). In some cases, a combination of both forms of radiotherapy may be used. Radiotherapy can be given in two ways: from outside or inside the body. External radiotherapy is the most common method of treatment. With this technique, the radiation is directed from a machine at the cancer and surrounding tissue. In internal radiotherapy, radioactive material in sealed applicators are put into your body, on or near the cancer (brachytherapy). In some cases, a combination of both forms of radiotherapy may be used.radiation cancerradiation cancer

external In radiotherapy, a machine directs In external radiotherapy, a machine directs radiation onto the cancer and surrounding tissue. Different machines may be used: some are better for treating cancers near the skin, others are better for cancers deeper in the body. The radiation oncologist will know which is the best machine to treat your cancer. radiation onto the cancer and surrounding tissue. Different machines may be used: some are better for treating cancers near the skin, others are better for cancers deeper in the body. The radiation oncologist will know which is the best machine to treat your cancer. In radiotherapy, a machine directs In external radiotherapy, a machine directs radiation onto the cancer and surrounding tissue. Different machines may be used: some are better for treating cancers near the skin, others are better for cancers deeper in the body. The radiation oncologist will know which is the best machine to treat your cancer. radiation onto the cancer and surrounding tissue. Different machines may be used: some are better for treating cancers near the skin, others are better for cancers deeper in the body. The radiation oncologist will know which is the best machine to treat your cancer.radiationcancerskinradiation oncologistradiationcancerskinradiation oncologistradiationcancerskinradiation oncologistradiationcancerskinradiation oncologist

Internal therapy Radiotherapy with implants is most commonly used to treat cancers of the cervix and prostate but may be used in other sites. This treatment is also known as brachytherapy. Thin tubes, seeds or rods containing radioactive material are placed in your body temporarily, either directly into the cancer or close to it. In some cases the implant may be permanent. Radiotherapy with implants is most commonly used to treat cancers of the cervix and prostate but may be used in other sites. This treatment is also known as brachytherapy. Thin tubes, seeds or rods containing radioactive material are placed in your body temporarily, either directly into the cancer or close to it. In some cases the implant may be permanent. cancerscervixprostatebrachytherapy cancerscervixprostatebrachytherapy Your doctor may recommend internal radiotherapy alone, or combined with external radiotherapy. The treatment you are offered will depend on the type of cancer you have, where it is, its size, your general health, test results, and previous treatments. Your doctor may recommend internal radiotherapy alone, or combined with external radiotherapy. The treatment you are offered will depend on the type of cancer you have, where it is, its size, your general health, test results, and previous treatments.

How is the implant placed in the body You will usually need to be admitted to hospital and have the implant put into your body while you are under anaesthetic. You will usually need to be admitted to hospital and have the implant put into your body while you are under anaesthetic.anaesthetic Implants come in different shapes, and can contain different radioactive materials. The type of implant you have depends on the type of cancer you have. To get very close to the cancer doctors use implants in the form of needles, wires, capsules, and other devices. In some cases the doctor may use a special applicator to hold the implant against the surface of the cancer. Implants come in different shapes, and can contain different radioactive materials. The type of implant you have depends on the type of cancer you have. To get very close to the cancer doctors use implants in the form of needles, wires, capsules, and other devices. In some cases the doctor may use a special applicator to hold the implant against the surface of the cancer.cancer

Side effects of radiotherapy tiredness, diarrhoea, cystitis, frequency of urine, soreness of the rectum (proctitis), reddening/sore skin. tiredness, diarrhoea, cystitis, frequency of urine, soreness of the rectum (proctitis), reddening/sore skin.

Liner accelerator Radiotherapy

Internal components

How it Works The fundamental principle of radiosurgery is that of selective ionization of the tissue to be operated upon, by means of high-energy beams of radiation. Ionization is the production of inorganic ions which are usually deleterious to the cells, by forming free radicals that are harmful to the cellular and nuclear membranes, and even to the RNA and DNA chains of the cells, producing an irreparable damage to these structures and then the cell's death. Thus, biological inactivation is carried out in a volume of tissue to be treated, with a precise destructive effect. The radiation dose absorbed by the treated mass of tissue is what defines the degree of biological inactivation. It usually is measured in units of Gray, the quantity of energy defined by one joule per kg of mass. The fundamental principle of radiosurgery is that of selective ionization of the tissue to be operated upon, by means of high-energy beams of radiation. Ionization is the production of inorganic ions which are usually deleterious to the cells, by forming free radicals that are harmful to the cellular and nuclear membranes, and even to the RNA and DNA chains of the cells, producing an irreparable damage to these structures and then the cell's death. Thus, biological inactivation is carried out in a volume of tissue to be treated, with a precise destructive effect. The radiation dose absorbed by the treated mass of tissue is what defines the degree of biological inactivation. It usually is measured in units of Gray, the quantity of energy defined by one joule per kg of mass.

In order to perform optimal therapy, the neurosurgeon, assisted by physicists specialized in nuclear medicine, chooses the best type of radiation to be used, and how it will be delivered. Usually, the total dose of radiation required to kill a tumor, for example, is not delivered in a single, massive section, because this would cause collateral, undesirable effects on the patient. Instead, it is divided into several sessions of smaller duration and energy dose, in a procedure called dose fractioning. Even when administered with intervals of several days between them, the ionizing effect accumulates in the tissue. thus achieving the same results with less undesirable consequences for the patient. In order to plan the radiation incidence and dosage, the physicists draw a map portraying the lines of equal intensity of radiation upon the patient's head (this is called a isodose map). Information about the tumor's location is obtained from a series of computerized tomograms, which are then feed to special planning computer software. In order to perform optimal therapy, the neurosurgeon, assisted by physicists specialized in nuclear medicine, chooses the best type of radiation to be used, and how it will be delivered. Usually, the total dose of radiation required to kill a tumor, for example, is not delivered in a single, massive section, because this would cause collateral, undesirable effects on the patient. Instead, it is divided into several sessions of smaller duration and energy dose, in a procedure called dose fractioning. Even when administered with intervals of several days between them, the ionizing effect accumulates in the tissue. thus achieving the same results with less undesirable consequences for the patient. In order to plan the radiation incidence and dosage, the physicists draw a map portraying the lines of equal intensity of radiation upon the patient's head (this is called a isodose map). Information about the tumor's location is obtained from a series of computerized tomograms, which are then feed to special planning computer software.draw a mapplanning computer softwaredraw a mapplanning computer software There are two types of radiations used in radiosurgery: neutrons and gamma rays. There are two types of radiations used in radiosurgery: neutrons and gamma rays.

Parts of accelerator

Known for bringing advanced technology to Lexington for over 20 years, United Radiation Oncology has taken a giant step into the future of radiotherapy with the installation of the Synergy accelerator. This is the world's first kvp CT image-guided radiation therapy system, designed to more aggressively battle cancer, targeting and treating tumors with unparalleled accuracy. Known for bringing advanced technology to Lexington for over 20 years, United Radiation Oncology has taken a giant step into the future of radiotherapy with the installation of the Synergy accelerator. This is the world's first kvp CT image-guided radiation therapy system, designed to more aggressively battle cancer, targeting and treating tumors with unparalleled accuracy. United Radiation Oncology patients are the first in the nation to be treated with image-guided radiation therapy and, with fewer treatments required in selected cases, even patients who live a long distance from Lexington will have the option of this revolutionary technology. United Radiation Oncology patients are the first in the nation to be treated with image-guided radiation therapy and, with fewer treatments required in selected cases, even patients who live a long distance from Lexington will have the option of this revolutionary technology.

linear accelerator A modern radiotherapy treatment machine. X rays are produced by bremsstrahlung when electrons, accelerated by a linear accelerator to energies between about 4 and 25 MeV, strike a thick target. The x rays are then shaped by a contoured flattening filter that makes uniform the originally spread-out, but forward-peaked, x-ray flux. The accelerator, beam transport system, and beam-shaping devices are all mounted on a so-called gantry that can rotate a full 360° about a horizontal axis. It typically takes about a minute to complete a rotation. The patient lies on a couch, mounted here on an accordion structure. The couch can move in all three translational directions and can also rotate about a vertical axis through the point at which the central axes of all beams cross. With the appropriate combination of gantry and couch adjustments, the radiation beam can be pointed at the tumor along almost any direction. The traylike object extending from near the bottom of the machine is an imaging detector A modern radiotherapy treatment machine. X rays are produced by bremsstrahlung when electrons, accelerated by a linear accelerator to energies between about 4 and 25 MeV, strike a thick target. The x rays are then shaped by a contoured flattening filter that makes uniform the originally spread-out, but forward-peaked, x-ray flux. The accelerator, beam transport system, and beam-shaping devices are all mounted on a so-called gantry that can rotate a full 360° about a horizontal axis. It typically takes about a minute to complete a rotation. The patient lies on a couch, mounted here on an accordion structure. The couch can move in all three translational directions and can also rotate about a vertical axis through the point at which the central axes of all beams cross. With the appropriate combination of gantry and couch adjustments, the radiation beam can be pointed at the tumor along almost any direction. The traylike object extending from near the bottom of the machine is an imaging detector