Cancer Radiation Treatment and the Type of Cells That it Affects
Cancer Radiation Treatment and the Type of Cells That it Affects
The definition of radiation therapy can be further explained by its indication, effects on the cells, and also its side effects. First of all, radiation therapy may be used for cure control or palliation. It also can be use alone or in conjunction with one or more of the other modalities like surgery, chemotherapy, or bio therapy.
Radiation therapy has been used alone as a curative treatment modality for basal cell carcinoma of the skin, tumors confined to the vocal cords and nasopharyngeal cancers. Cancer Radiation treatment for prostate cancer is also opted. For several types of cancer, radiation therapy offers an alternative to surgery with equally good local control rates. Major considerations when deciding which treatments to use are the availability of adequate facilities, equipment and experienced personnel, functional and cosmetic results of therapy and the physiologic status of the patient. This kind of treatment may be chosen for someone who is a poor surgical risk due to preexisting physical conditions.
Palliation as a goal for therapy includes reducing tumor size to relieve symptoms such as pain and obstruction. Indications for use include pain and neurologic symptoms associated with bone and brain metastases, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, bronchial and tracheal obstruction, ulcerating skin lesions, bleeding tumors particularly of the uterus, urinary bladder and lungs, and spinal cord compression. The process of receiving this kind of Cancer Radiation imposes a burden on the patient in terms of time, comfort, effort and money. Therefore, the benefits and limitations are considered when the decision for palliative treatment is made.
Cellular death resulting from radiation exposure occurs during one of three phases. First is immediate death wherein the effects cause cell death within a few hours of exposure to radiation. The second one is death at the time of cell division. Although the cell maybe able to function, damage to the cell interferes with mitosis. Thus the cell will no longer be able to divide and will die without producing offspring. The death of these cells at the time of mitosis is responsible for the long term effects of this kind of treatment.
Moreover, the cells can die at the time of natural death. Cancer Radiation can cause changes in cells by forming giant cells. These cells continue to function, but cannot divide. Over a period of time these cells will degenerate and die a natural death without creating any offspring through mitosis. Cells that are not in one of the three phases of cell division noted are not as sensitive to the destructive effects of radiation. Therefore, the greater the number of cells active in cell division at that times of exposure, the greater the degree of cell death.
Because normal cells are also sensitive to the effects of radiation, damage can also occur to them. The direct effect of radiation to the cells can injure the tissues and also the capillaries supplying blood to the tissues. Normal cells most sensitive to the effects of radiation include cells with high oxygen content and cells that are in the process of cellular division.
These are the common cells affected by radiation therapy. Since cancer cells are in the process of division, they are sensitive to radiation therapy.
Definition of radiation therapy involves the whole process, its indication and its effects on the cells of the body. Gather more information at http://cancerradiation.org/blog/ about radiation therapy as treatment for cancer.
Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) - Treatment That Enhances Life Where Is Asbestos Found What To Do If You Find Asbestos Studies Show Asbestos Claims On The Rise Alcoholism Treatment With Hypnosis Which kind of tattoo is easy to be removed by the laser treatment? Fibroids Natural Treatment – No Point In Your Reading This If You AREN'T Serious About Treating Fibroids Naturally Loss of Appetite Cure - Effective and Permanent Natural Treatment Stomach Pain Cure - Effective and Permanent Natural Treatment Treatment for Erectile Dysfunction Caused Due To Steroids and Over Mastaurbation Best 5 Reasons To Prevent Breast Surgical Treatment Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Treatment Dandruff Natural Treatments for Seborrheic Dermatitis