Radiotherapy Flashcards
What is the name of the short range more damaging radiation?
ALPHA or ‘a particles’
They are the shortest acting and and stopped by skin
What are the 4 types of radiation…
-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!!!
What is the strongest type of radiation?
Neutrons
What is the simple definition of radiotherapy?
It’s the treatment of disease by Ionising radiation
What does Ionising radiation do?
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.
What radiation types are preferred in the treatment radiotherapy and why?
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.
True or false:
Beta Radiation is preferred in the treatment of malignancies
FALSE
ALPHA and GAMMA are preferred in the treatment of ,malignancies
What are some uses of Radiotherapy?
- Treat cancers
- Shrink cancers
- Reduce risk of cancer returning after surgery
- Control symptons/ reduce pain
- Reduce growth of cells
- Palliative radiotherapy
What are the types of radiotherapy?
- EXTERNAL (supplied from outside of the body)
- INTERNAL (Utilised radioactive implants placed inside the body- Brachitherapy)
What is the term used for each exposure to radiotherapy
A FRACTION
What type of radiotherapy my cause the patient to have to limit contact with certain people after the procedure (pregnant people)
Internal Radiotherapy:
As there may be radioactive material still in the patient after the procedure
What type of radiotherapy is ususally given over 7 days or weeks and the patient will have to lie in a certain position.
External Radiotherapy
TRUE or FALSE
Radiotherapy is usually very painful
FALSE
It’s usually a painless procedure
What does the term conformal radiotherapy (CRT) mean?
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
What type of radiotherapy is used routinely to treat prostate cancer?
Conformal Radiotherapy (CRT)
Where metal blocks are used to direct the beam of ionising radiation
Name some isotopes (things) used in radiotherapy…
- STRONTIUM and SAMARIUM (bone cancers)
- IODINE (thyroid cancers)
- RADIUM (secondary bone cancers)
Which of the following isotopes is NOT used as -internal radiotherapy?
- Potassium
- Strontium
- Iodine
- Samarium
Potassium is NOT used in internal radiotherapy
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
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
What are the side effects of radiotherapy …
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)
What is the risk with Radiotherpy?
- Increased dose can increase the risk of normal cells turning cancerous
- Can cause thyroid proplems if treating thyroid
What are the 2 possible future types of radiotherapy?
- Hyperfractioned radiotherpy
- Hypofractioned radiotherapy
What are the characteristics of HYPERfractionated radiotherapy
- 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
Name some characteristics of HYPOfractionated radiotherapy
- 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
What’s Stereotactic radiotherapy
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
Ionising radiation can cause:
- apoptosis
- ischaemia
- hyperplasia
- necrosis
apoptosis
