What is radiation therapy?

Radiation therapy is simply the use of x-rays to kill cancer cells.

We use the same type of x-rays that you would receive in getting a mammogram, dental x-ray, or CT scan.

The x-rays used in radiation therapy are given in a higher dose and use a higher energy. But, generally, they are the same x-rays as getting a regular x-ray.

Because radiation is just x-rays--a patient will not feel the treatment any more than when getting a chest x-ray. Basically, the treatment is painless.

However, there can be eventual side effects. And side effects come in two types. Short term and long term.

Side effects will generally only be in the area treated. X-rays do not affect parts of the body not in the treatment beam.

Short term side effects are those you may experience during the 3-8 weeks of therapy. They are due to irritation and inflamation from the x-rays. Sore throat or red skin are examples.

Long term side effects are due to actual tissue changes from the radiation and not inflamation. These can appear 6 months onward up to many years. Each tissue/organ in the body has a certain tolerance to radiation and if exceeded can cause a long term effect in that organ.

So be sure to ask your radiation oncologist to fully explain all short and long term side effects. No sense in being surprised.