External radiation: A machine directs a beam of radiation at the tumor. Temporary marks on the skin help the radiation technician target the exact location to be treated. The radiation oncologist calculates the dose of radiation to be used on the tumor. Each treatment lasts a few minutes. The total dose is given over several weeks to allow normal tissue that has been affected to recover.
Internal radiation: consists of radioactive materials being implanted in a part of the body thats to be treated. The material left in can be for a few hours or many hours, depending on the calculations of the doctor. Once implanted, the radioactive material generally does not cause any pain. This procedure can cure the cancer or lessen long-term problems by controlling the symptoms of cancer or it's spread.
Side Effects
Side effects may vary from patient to patient. A few mild side effects or none at all may occur during radiation therapy. There are two main types of side effects: acute and chronic. Acute or short-term side effects occur at the time of treatment, and usually gone completely within a few weeks of finishing treatment. Chronic, or long-term side effects may take months or years to develop and usually are permanent.
The most common side effects are fatigue, skin changes, and loss of appetite. Most side effects will go away in time. If side effects are particularly severe, the doctor may prescribe a break in treatment or change the kind of treatment. Tell your doctor or nurse about any side effect you notice.
Followup Care
Once radiation therapy is finished, it is important to have regular exams and certain tests to check the results of treatment.
Special Care Needed
* Get plenty of rest.... sleep as often as needed.
* Good nutrition is very important.
* Wear loose, soft cotton clothing over treated area.
* Do not use any soaps, lotions, deodorants, medicine,
cosmetics, or powder on the treated area without talking
to your doctor.
* Do not apply heat or cold to the area.
* Protect the area from sun.
* Do not rub or scrub the treated area.
If you have any questions, concerns or worries, do not hesitate to talk to your doctor.
My Story
The hardest part for me when I was getting radiation therapy, was the amount of radiation treatments. I had 30 treatment sessions, Monday through Friday for about seven weeks. It was at the same time everyday. I was usually home in 20-30 minutes. It became very tedious. It became an emotional thing to have to do, any kind of plans had to be made around the treatments. Sometimes after I got there the machine would break down which meant no treatment. Which usually made me happy, but aggraveted that I had come to the hospital for nothing. I also started chemotherapy during that time which really made me a very unpleasant person at the times. It was also during one of the hottest summers here. My marks kept wearing off, which meant I was always being remarked. The acute side effects that I had were normal, always tired and loss of appetite. The chronic side effects that came up about six months after my last radiation treatment was diarrhea. Today more than 5 years later I still suffer from that side effect. Because I had external radiation on my pelvic area, it effected my stomach and bowels and left me with diarrhea. Today I know the emotions I felt then were normal, it was a very frustrating and scary time. With that I'll end this article. Your in my thought and prayers always. L.P.
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