External Radiation Therapy

GENERAL INFORMATION:

What is external radiation therapy?

• External radiation therapy is a treatment which uses radiation (x-ray energy) to kill cancer cells. It can be used to treat or prevent the spread of one or more cancer tumors. Cancer is a condition where abnormal cells increase in number and get out of control. Cancer cells can form a tumor anywhere in your body and damage tissues and organs. Tumors are lumps of cancer cells that can grow quickly. The tumor can pinch blood vessels and nerves, or damage nearby tissues. Cancer cells can break off from the tumor and travel through blood or lymph vessels. They can reach other parts of your body, and grow into new tumors.
  
  
• External radiation therapy can treat tumors in your head, chest, bone, abdomen, and other parts of your body. This treatment can reach tumors inside your organs, and stop them from growing or make them disappear. This will make it less likely that cancer cells will spread to other parts of your body. Radiation can be given to areas near tumors to kill cancer cells that are just starting to spread. Radiation therapy can also decrease cancer pain that cannot be relieved by medicines. This therapy is used with other treatments such as medicines, chemotherapy, and surgery. With radiation therapy, cancer cells may be killed, and your cancer pain may decrease or go away. It may also keep you cancer free, and increase the years of your life.

What body areas with cancer tumors may be treated with external radiation therapy? Cancer tumors in body areas can cause many problems. External radiation therapy may help relieve the problems caused by the tumors. Treatment may be done to the following body areas:

• Head and neck: You can have problems thinking and remembering things if the tumor is in your brain. You can also have headaches, vomiting, and seizures (convulsions). Tumors in your throat can make your voice very scratchy, or you may lose your voice completely. You may also have a hard time swallowing food or liquids.
  
  
• Chest: You can have problems breathing, or have swelling and infections if a tumor is inside your lungs.
  
  
• Arms and legs: Your arms and legs have many lymph glands in them. Lymph is the fluid that carries antibodies which fight germs and infections. Cancer cells that spread to your lymph glands and vessels can block the flow of lymph. When vessels are blocked, lymph builds up and may cause swelling and pain.
  
  
• Bones: Tumors can make your bone marrow stop working. Bone marrow is the spongy part inside your bones that makes blood cells. You will tire easily, and be more likely to get infections if you have too few blood cells.
  
  
• Abdomen: Your liver can get swollen and painful, and may not work as it should. You can have problems getting nutrients from food, and you may get very weak. Tumors in your bowels can make it hard to pass stools.
  
  
• Pelvic area: Cancer can damage nerves near a man's penis and make it difficult to get an erection. Tumors may grow on the testicles of males, and the ovaries of females. Males can have trouble getting their partner pregnant, and females can have problems getting pregnant. Tumors can block the flow of your urine. You may have trouble emptying your bladder completely, and feel that some urine is still left inside. Urine may leak out when you do not expect it, such as when you cough or while you sleep. You may also get more infections, which can damage your kidneys.

How is external beam radiation therapy given?

• Your treatment will happen on a special table that can be moved to different positions. Pillows or supports can be used to hold you in the right position. Shields to block radiation from other parts of your body may be put over you.
  
  
• A MRI or CT scan is used to help point the radiation beam at your tumor. The scan will also show the exact shape, size, and location of your tumor. Your caregiver will set the beam's shape and how much radiation your tumor will get. The beam comes from x-ray machines and is pointed where it passes through the least amount of healthy tissue. This will help prevent normal tissue from getting radiation. There is a bar that holds the beam which will be moved around you. This lets your caregiver point the beam at the right part of your body. The size and shape of the beam may be the same as your tumor. A wider beam may be used to kill cancer cells that are starting to spread.
  
  
• During your treatment you will need to lie still and relax. You should not feel any pain, heat, tingling, or anything else during treatment. When your treatment is done, your bed will be moved out of the treatment area.

What are the risks of having external beam radiation therapy? Radiation kills cancer cells, but can also hurt normal cells. Your eyes, liver, and a man's testicles may be damaged by a small amount of radiation. You may feel more side effects if you are taking other cancer medicines with your treatment. You may have any of the following side effects:

• Early risks: These problems can show up a few days or weeks after your treatment.
  
  
  • A change in your appearance. Your skin can get dry, red, dark, or broken. This places you at higher risk for getting infected with germs. You can have alopecia. This is when your hair gets thin and falls out.
    
    
  • Damage to your organs. You can have swelling and pain in organs where radiation passed through. They may not work as well as before, or stop working completely.
    
    
  • Feeling very tired and having trouble sleeping well. Having an upset stomach and throwing up.
  
  
• Later risks: These problems can show up months or years after your treatment.
  
  
  • Weight loss and weakness.
    
    
  • New tumors growing in your body.
    
    
  • Swelling or scarring in your organs. Your organs may swell and be painful, or stop working.
    
    
  • Men may have trouble getting an erection or getting a female partner pregnant.

How should I care for my skin while getting external radiation therapy? External beam radiation therapy may make your skin red and very dry. Your skin may also get moist. It may begin to bleed, and start to peel off. Ask your caregiver if you should do the following to care for your skin:

• Wash your hair and scalp gently with a mild shampoo.
  
  
• Wash your skin gently with mild soap. Do not scrub your skin. Pat yourself dry with a towel instead of rubbing your skin.
  
  
• While bathing, do not soak for a long time as this can make your skin drier.
  
  
• Ask your caregiver what type of lotion or cream would be best for you to use on your skin.

When should I call my caregiver? Call your caregiver if:

• You have a fever.
  
  
• You get sick (a cold or flu).
  
  
• You cannot make it to your treatment on time.

When should I seek immediate help? Call 911 or get to the nearest emergency room if:

• You have a seizure.
  
  
• You suddenly have problems remembering things.
  
  
• You suddenly have trouble breathing or chest pain.

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your care. To help with this plan, you must learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. You can then discuss treatment options with your caregivers. Work with them to decide what care may be used to treat you. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Healthcare Inc. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.

The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

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