Radiotherapy Flashcards by Alice Caporn | Brainscape

Q

Which waves are shortest; alpha, gamma or beta?

A

Alpha

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Q

What are atoms made up of

A

Neutrons, protons and electrons

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Q

Which waves are blocked by the skin?

A

Alpha

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Q

Which waves are only stopped by an aluminium sheet

A

Beta

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Q

Which waves are only stopped by lead?

A

Gamma, x rays

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Q

The treatment of disease by ionising radiation is

A

Radiotherapy

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Q

How does radiotherapy damage cancer cells

A

Disrupts DNA; stops cell cycle, cell repair and replication

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Q

Radiotherapy damages healthy cells causing …

A

Apoptosis

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Q

Hyper fractionated radiotherapy involves reducing the frequency of fractions ie. less than once a week. True or false

A

False

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Q

True or false, domperidone can be prescribed to reduce the tiredness associated with radiotherapy

A

False

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Q

Radiotherapy may be used to treat Graves’ disease as radiotherapy reduces the activity of the thyroid gland by destroying cells, true or false

A

True

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Q

External radiotherapy involves radioactive wires or seeds (radioactive gold or iodine) being placed into the target area, true or false

A

False

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Q

True or false, hyper fractionated radiotherapy decreases the total dose received by the patient

A

False

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Q

True or false, every exposure to radiotherapy is known as a fraction

A

True

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Q

True or false, hyper fractionated radiotherapy treatment is given over 12days rather than 4-6 weeks

A

True

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Q

True or false, hypo fractionated radiotherapy involves increasing the dose of radiotherapy per fraction, then lowering the frequency of fractions

A

True

Q

True or false, internal radiotherapy may be given IV or tablet form

A

True

Q

Which two types of radiation are more likely to cause tissue or cell damage

A

Alpha

Gamma

Q

Is radiotherapy used to shrink tumours before surgery

A

Yes

Q

Approximately how long does each external fraction take

A

About 5 mins

Q

Which scans might be done before a patient receives external radiotherapy to check the exact position

A

PET or MRI

Q

Conformal radiotherapy (CRT) is routinely used for which malignancy

A

Prostate

Q

What does a Geiger counter do

A

Monitors radioactivity

Q

Which type of radiation is used in brachytherapy for cervical cancer

A

Alpha waves - shorter range, stopped by skin therefore less damaging

Q

Strontium 89 and samarium 153 might be used during internal radiotherapy for which types of cancer

A

Some bone cancers

Q

Iodine 131 might be used in internal radiotherapy to treat which cancer

A

Thyroid

Q

Radium 223 might be used during internal radiotherapy to treat which cancer

A

Secondary bone cancer trials

Q

When can the side effects of radiotherapy present themselves

A

During the treatment, or 4-6 weeks following the treatment

Q

What are the common side effects of radiotherapy

A

Tiredness
Nausea and vomiting 
Sore skin 
Muscle and joint pain 
Infertility (dependent on where had the radiotherapy)

Q

Which type of radiotherapy is used to treat small round tumours usually found in the head?

A

Stereotactic radiotherapy

Q

Which type of radiotherapy is used to treat a number of benign tumours; pituitary adenomas, acoustic neuromas, meninginomas

A

Stereotactic radiotherapy

Q

Which type of radiotherapy involves using an external frame to keep the head in place

A

Stereotactic radiotherapy

Q

What might be used to treat a tumour if the patient is too ill to go to surgery

A

Radio surgery

Q

What type of radiotherapy emits a higher dose of radiation in the centre of the tumour which loses it’s intensity distally therefore damaging less healthy cells

A

Intensely modulated RT