What is Radiation Treatment?

Radiation treatment, also known as radiation therapy, is the use of ionized radiation to eliminate or control cancerous cells in the body. Patients receive radiation treatment for a variety of reasons, mainly those which are listed below. Often, radiation therapy is combined with another form of cancer treatment including surgery or chemotherapy.
Radiation treatment causes damage to the DNA strands of cancer cells, forcing them to die or reproduce at a slower rate. Certain types of cancers, such as lymphomas and leukemia, are extremely vulnerable to radiation treatment. Other types of cancers, including melanoma and renal cell cancer, are highly resistant to radiation. Malignant tumors also become more resistant to radiation therapy as they increase in size.

Types of Radiation Treatment

Radiation therapy can have several possible benefits when used to help treat cancer patients. The type of treatment a patient receives depends on the type, size and stage of his or her cancer. Generally, the purposes of radiation treatment fall into one of the following categories:
Curative: Radiation treatment is deemed curative when its purpose is to completely remove all cancerous cells.
Adjuvant: As a form of preventative care, adjuvant radiation treatment is administered when no other cancer cells can be detected – usually following surgery or another form of treatment. This helps ensure that all cancer cells are eradicated.
Neoadjuvant: This type of radiation treatment is usually administered prior to surgery to reduce the sizes of tumors or malignant growths, making it easier for them to be removed.
Palliative: Palliative radiation treatment is administered to help relieve pain and symptoms associated with cancer.

Effects of Radiation Treatment

Although radiation treatment is painless, the procedure has many possible side effects. Patients may experience hair loss, fatigue or dryness of the mouth, eyes and skin. Radiation therapy can also cause cancer to develop years after treatment has ended; it is also a source of heart disease among some patients.