top 5 most frequently asked questions on radiation therapy
DESCRIPTION
Michael Chin lives and works out of his research lab in Worcester, Massachusetts. He is working as a research fellow for the University of Massachusetts Medical School, specifically in their Department of Radiation Oncology.TRANSCRIPT
Top 5 Most Frequently Asked
Questions About Radiation TherapyWhat does it do? Will it hurt? Get informed and make the right
decision!
Lack of information and misinformation can cloud
your judgment and influence your decision-making
capabilities negatively.
Many people fear radiation therapy treatments
because they do not understand the process or
have a good grasp of risks and benefits.
Read the following answers to the most common
FAQs and then talk to your doctor about what is
right for you.
What does it do?Depending on its role in your treatment, radiation therapy can completely
eliminate cancer cells, shrink a tumor for reduced pain, or reduce the risk of a
cancer returning in the future. Check with your doctor to determine what role
radiation therapy will play in your treatment.
Image source: https://osuwmcdigital.osu.edu
Will it hurt?
A small sample of patients
report a small tingling or
warming sensation but the vast
majority of patients don’t feel
anything at all! Afterward, the
treated area might be a little
sensitive and night be more
prone to irritation
Radiation therapy
treatments are completely
painless.
What are the side
effects?
For example, men with prostate cancer might experience bladder
problems while women receiving pelvic radiation might encounter
fertility issues. Check with your doctor to find out what areas might be at
risk for you.
Your radiation oncologist will
customize your radiation
therapy because no two
people are alike and no two
treatments are either. Side
effects also differ from
person to person, but the
biggest issue is potential
damage to surrounding
organs that are very close to
the treated area.
Is it safe?Radiation is invisible to the naked eye, but radiation oncologists use advanced
equipment and sophisticated computers to control your treatment. Through this careful
process, your medical team will be able to destroy cancer cells or slow tumor growth,
all with careful oversight and an accurate delivery system.
Will I Be “Radioactive?” If you are receiving external-beam radiation therapy, then you won’t have to worry
about radioactivity because there is no radiation left behind once the treatment is over.
However, those who receive internal radiation therapy should learn about necessary
precautions to decrease other peoples’ exposure because some radiation may remain
after treatment.
