In some cases, more than one type is used. Your cancer care team can answer specific questions about the type of radiation prescribed for you, how it affects your body, and any precautions that may be needed.
During your radiation therapy, a team of highly trained medical professionals will care for you. Your team may include these people:. You may also need the services of a dietitian, physical therapist, social worker, dentist or dental oncologist, pharmacist, or other health care providers.
It has long been known that radiation therapy can slightly raise the risk of getting another cancer. For the most part, the risk of a second cancer from these treatments is small and is outweighed by the benefit of treating the cancer, but the risk is not zero. This is one of the many reasons each case is different and each person must be part of deciding which kind of treatment is right for them. The risk is different depending on where the radiation treatment will be in the body.
Still, this is your decision to make. Knowing as much as you can about the possible benefits and risks can help you be sure that radiation therapy is best for you. If the area getting radiation in your body includes the ovaries, it is possible that the dose of radiation can cause the ovaries to no longer work sterility , and that you would be unable to have children.
If you are thinking about radiation therapy that will affect the ovaries, talk to your doctor about how this might affect having children in the future. Because of this, doctors often advise men to not get a woman pregnant during and for some weeks after treatment. Talk to your doctor to find out more about this. If the area getting radiation includes the testicles, it is possible that the dose of radiation can cause the testicles to no longer work sterility and that you would be unable to have children.
It is important to know the risk of this possibility in advance of receiving radiation therapy. There is no clear research about how sperm that is exposed to radiation affects future children made from that sperm. If you are thinking about radiation therapy that will affect the testicles, talk to your doctor about how this might affect having children in the future. Before signing the consent form, be sure that you have had a chance to get all your questions answered. Here are some of the things you may want to ask about:.
This schedule usually continues for 3 to 9 weeks, depending on your personal treatment plan. This type of radiation therapy targets only the tumor. But it will affect some healthy tissue surrounding the tumor. While most people feel no pain when each treatment is being delivered, effects of treatment slowly build up over time and may include discomfort, skin changes, or other side effects, depending on where in the body treatment is being delivered.
The 2-day break in treatment each week allows your body some time to repair this damage. Some of the effects may not go away until the treatment period is completed. Let the health care professionals if you are experiencing side effects.
Read more about the side effects of radiation therapy. Internal radiation therapy is also called brachytherapy. This includes both temporary and permanent placement of radioactive sources at the site of the tumor. Typically, you will have repeated treatments across a number of days and weeks.
These treatments may require a brief hospital stay. You may need anesthesia to block the awareness of pain while the radioactive sources are placed in the body. Most people feel little to no discomfort during this treatment. But some may experience weakness or nausea from the anesthesia. You will need to take precautions to protect others from radiation exposure. Your radiation therapy team will provide these instructions. The need for such precautions ends when:. During your treatment, your radiation oncologist will check how well it is working.
Typically, this will happen at least once a week. If needed, they may adjust your treatment plan. Many people experience fatigue, sensitive skin at the site of radiation exposure, and emotional distress during radiation therapy. It is important to rest and take care of yourself during radiation therapy. Consider these ways to care of yourself:. Learn more about coping during treatment. And, be sure to talk with your health care team about how you are feeling throughout your treatment period.
Once treatment ends, you will have follow-up appointments with the radiation oncologist. It's important to continue your follow-up care, which includes:. As your body heals, you will need fewer follow-up visits. Ask your doctor for a written record of your treatment. This is a helpful resource as you manage your long-term health care. Are there special services for patients receiving radiation therapy, such as certain parking spaces or parking rates?
Will special precautions be needed to protect my family and others from radiation exposure during my treatment period? This 1-page printable PDF gives an introduction to radiation therapy, including an overview of the different types of radiation, what to expect during treatment, possible side effects, terms to know, and questions to ask the health care team.
Who is on my radiation therapy team? This team may include the following health care professionals: Radiation oncologist. A radiation oncology nurse plays many roles, including: Answering questions about treatments Monitoring your health during treatment Helping you manage side effects of treatment Medical radiation physicist. These professionals include: Social workers Nutritionists or dietitians Rehabilitation therapists, such as physical therapists or speech therapists Dentists Learn more about the oncology team.
What happens before radiation therapy treatment? You can expect these steps before beginning treatment: Meeting with your radiation oncologist. Signing the document means: Your team gave you information about your treatment options. You choose to have radiation therapy. You give permission for the health care professionals to deliver the treatment. You understand the treatment is not guaranteed to give the intended results.
This is called palliative treatment. If you would like more information about your radiotherapy, read more using the resources below:.
How radiotherapy works. What is radiotherapy? External radiotherapy aims high-energy X-rays at the tumour using a machine called a linear accelerator. Internal radiotherapy involves having radioactive material placed inside the body.
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