1. Cancer Cells and Radiation
By Dominika Cornejo

2. What is Radiation Therapy?
Radiation therapy uses high-energy particles or waves, such as x-rays, gamma rays, electron beams, or protons, to destroy or damage cancer cells. Other names for radiation therapy are radiotherapy, irradiation, or x-ray therapy.

3. How Does Radiation Kill Cancer Cells?
Radiation therapy kills cancer cells by damaging their DNA
This can be achieved by either direct damage to the DNA or by creating free radicals within the cells that damage the DNA
A cancer cell can’t grow or divide anymore when its genes are damaged by radiation
Over time the cell dies

4. Types of Radiation Therapy
External-beam radiation therapy
Delivered by a machine outside of the body
Internal radiation therapy (brachytherapy)
Radioactive material is placed inside the body near cancer cells
Systematic radiation therapy
Radioactive material travels through the body and is absorbed by cancer cells
Can be given in one of three ways:
By mouth-a capsule or solution
By intravenous injection-radioactive material is injected directly into a vein
By instillation-the radioactive material is placed into a body cavity

5. Equipment Needed
CT Scans (MRI, PET Scans, and Ultrasounds are sometimes taken as well)
A head mask during the scan is also provided to prevent the movement of the patient’s head
Varian Trilogy Linear Accelerator with on-board imaging (OBI)
Optical guidance system, respiratory gating
Stereotactic radiosurgery/radiotherapy (SRS/SRT)
Electronic portal imaging
120 Multi-leaf Collimator (MLC)

6. Side Effects Side effects depend on a number of factors:
area of the body being treated, the dose given per day, the total dose given, the patient’s general medical condition, and other treatments given at the same time
Possible side effects:
Skin irritation
Hair loss
Urinary problems
Salivary gland damage
Fatigue
Nausea (with or without vomiting)
Fibrosis
Damage to the bowels (causes diarrhea and/or bleeding
Memory loss
Infertility
Development of a second cancer due to radiation exposure (Rarely happens)

7. A Patient Undergoing Radiation Therapy

8. Works Cited
Bauke Schievink. “A Patient Undergoing Radiation Therapy.” Photograph. Beta Blog. 19 December Web. 3 February < efficacy-of-radiation.html>. Mayo Clinic Staff. Radiation therapy. Mayo Clinic. Web. 3 February < Radiation Therapy. The Free Dictionary by Farlex. Web. 3 February < dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/radiation+therapy>. Radiation Therapy Equipment. Good Samaritan Hospital. Web. 3 February < Radiation Therapy for Cancer. National Cancer Institute. Web. 3 February <