Radiotherapy Flashcards
Which waves are shortest; alpha, gamma or beta?
Alpha
What are atoms made up of
Neutrons, protons and electrons
Which waves are blocked by the skin?
Alpha
Which waves are only stopped by an aluminium sheet
Beta
Which waves are only stopped by lead?
Gamma, x rays
The treatment of disease by ionising radiation is
Radiotherapy
How does radiotherapy damage cancer cells
Disrupts DNA; stops cell cycle, cell repair and replication
Radiotherapy damages healthy cells causing …
Apoptosis
Hyper fractionated radiotherapy involves reducing the frequency of fractions ie. less than once a week. True or false
False
True or false, domperidone can be prescribed to reduce the tiredness associated with radiotherapy
False
Radiotherapy may be used to treat Graves’ disease as radiotherapy reduces the activity of the thyroid gland by destroying cells, true or false
True
External radiotherapy involves radioactive wires or seeds (radioactive gold or iodine) being placed into the target area, true or false
False
True or false, hyper fractionated radiotherapy decreases the total dose received by the patient
False
True or false, every exposure to radiotherapy is known as a fraction
True
True or false, hyper fractionated radiotherapy treatment is given over 12days rather than 4-6 weeks
True
True or false, hypo fractionated radiotherapy involves increasing the dose of radiotherapy per fraction, then lowering the frequency of fractions
True
True or false, internal radiotherapy may be given IV or tablet form
True
Which two types of radiation are more likely to cause tissue or cell damage
Alpha
Gamma
Is radiotherapy used to shrink tumours before surgery
Yes
Approximately how long does each external fraction take
About 5 mins
Which scans might be done before a patient receives external radiotherapy to check the exact position
PET or MRI
Conformal radiotherapy (CRT) is routinely used for which malignancy
Prostate
What does a Geiger counter do
Monitors radioactivity
Which type of radiation is used in brachytherapy for cervical cancer
Alpha waves - shorter range, stopped by skin therefore less damaging
Strontium 89 and samarium 153 might be used during internal radiotherapy for which types of cancer
Some bone cancers
Iodine 131 might be used in internal radiotherapy to treat which cancer
Thyroid
Radium 223 might be used during internal radiotherapy to treat which cancer
Secondary bone cancer trials
When can the side effects of radiotherapy present themselves
During the treatment, or 4-6 weeks following the treatment
What are the common side effects of radiotherapy
Tiredness Nausea and vomiting Sore skin Muscle and joint pain Infertility (dependent on where had the radiotherapy)
Which type of radiotherapy is used to treat small round tumours usually found in the head?
Stereotactic radiotherapy
Which type of radiotherapy is used to treat a number of benign tumours; pituitary adenomas, acoustic neuromas, meninginomas
Stereotactic radiotherapy
Which type of radiotherapy involves using an external frame to keep the head in place
Stereotactic radiotherapy
What might be used to treat a tumour if the patient is too ill to go to surgery
Radio surgery
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
Intensely modulated RT
