Radiotherapy

Question 1

What is the name of the short range more damaging radiation?

Answer 1

ALPHA or ‘a particles’

They are the shortest acting and and stopped by skin

Question 2

What are the 4 types of radiation…

Answer 2

-Alpha (short range- skin)
-Beta (medium - stopped by aluminium)
-Gamma, X rays (stopped by lead)
-Neutrons (Stopped by concrete)
Many radioactive substances emit all 3!!!

Question 3

What is the strongest type of radiation?

Answer 3

Neutrons

Question 4

What is the simple definition of radiotherapy?

Answer 4

It’s the treatment of disease by Ionising radiation

Question 5

What does Ionising radiation do?

Answer 5

It can penetrate tissue and alter the nuclear material ie DNA disrupting the cell growlth and reproduction.

So can cause apoptosis (cell dealth) and can be used to treat malignancies.

Question 6

What radiation types are preferred in the treatment radiotherapy and why?

Answer 6

ALPHA and GAMMA are preferred as they’re more likely to cause tissue or cell damage because they’re more effective at producing ionisation. They’re preferred over beta radiation for malignancies.

Question 7

True or false:

Beta Radiation is preferred in the treatment of malignancies

Answer 7

FALSE

ALPHA and GAMMA are preferred in the treatment of ,malignancies

Question 8

What are some uses of Radiotherapy?

Answer 8

• Treat cancers
• Shrink cancers
• Reduce risk of cancer returning after surgery
• Control symptons/ reduce pain
• Reduce growth of cells
• Palliative radiotherapy

Question 9

What are the types of radiotherapy?

Answer 9

• EXTERNAL (supplied from outside of the body)

- INTERNAL (Utilised radioactive implants placed inside the body- Brachitherapy)

Question 10

What is the term used for each exposure to radiotherapy

Answer 10

A FRACTION

Question 11

What type of radiotherapy my cause the patient to have to limit contact with certain people after the procedure (pregnant people)

Answer 11

Internal Radiotherapy:

As there may be radioactive material still in the patient after the procedure

Question 12

What type of radiotherapy is ususally given over 7 days or weeks and the patient will have to lie in a certain position.

Answer 12

External Radiotherapy

Question 13

TRUE or FALSE

Radiotherapy is usually very painful

Answer 13

FALSE

It’s usually a painless procedure

Question 14

What does the term conformal radiotherapy (CRT) mean?

Answer 14

It’s when the use of metal blocks are utelised to direct a beam of ionising radiation. Can be used to more closely target the shape of the tumour.
Used routinely in prostate cancer

Question 15

What type of radiotherapy is used routinely to treat prostate cancer?

Answer 15

Conformal Radiotherapy (CRT)

Where metal blocks are used to direct the beam of ionising radiation

Question 16

Name some isotopes (things) used in radiotherapy…

Answer 16

• STRONTIUM and SAMARIUM (bone cancers)
• IODINE (thyroid cancers)
• RADIUM (secondary bone cancers)

Question 17

Which of the following isotopes is NOT used as -internal radiotherapy?

• Potassium
• Strontium
• Iodine
• Samarium

Answer 17

Potassium is NOT used in internal radiotherapy

Question 18

Side-effects of radiotherapy:

• are dependent on the physical wellbeing of the patient at the time of treatment
• always appear after treatment
• are decreased if the frequency of radiotherapy is increased
• are not dependent on the dose of radiation

Answer 18

Are dependent on the physical wellbeing of the patient at the time of treatment

Also depend on the area being treated, dose of the radiation.

Can appear during treatment or weeks/months afterwards

Question 19

What are the side effects of radiotherapy …

Answer 19

Most people experience some side effects caused by damage to healthy cells- may take time to recover

• Main one is TIREDNESS!
• Can get nausia/sickness or diarrhoea depending on area being treated
• sore skin
• temporary hair loss
• Muslce/joint pain
• Fertility problems (prostate treatment/pelvic treatment in women)

Question 20

What is the risk with Radiotherpy?

Answer 20

• Increased dose can increase the risk of normal cells turning cancerous
• Can cause thyroid proplems if treating thyroid

Question 21

What are the 2 possible future types of radiotherapy?

Answer 21

• Hyperfractioned radiotherpy

- Hypofractioned radiotherapy

Question 22

What are the characteristics of HYPERfractionated radiotherapy

Answer 22

• Increased frequency more than once per day
• Given over 12 days rather then 4-6 weeks
• Total dose the same just more concentrated
• Requires hospital stay
• Only available in a few centres

EG- Continuous hyperfractionated radiotherapy

Question 23

Name some characteristics of HYPOfractionated radiotherapy

Answer 23

• Increased dose per fraction, less fractions all together
• Reduction in total amount of radiotherapy recieved
• Reduction in SE and reduction in risk of reoccurance of cancer

Question 24

What’s Stereotactic radiotherapy

Answer 24

It’s where a fitted mask/ frame is used to keep head in place.
Used to treat benign tumours in head and also secondary brain tumours

Radiosurgery- type of stereostatic radiotherapy and is a single large dose of radiation, may be used if patients can’t undergo surgery

Question 25

Ionising radiation can cause:

• apoptosis
• ischaemia
• hyperplasia
• necrosis

Answer 25

apoptosis