Radiotherapy

Question 1

What is radiotherapy?

Answer 1

The treatment of disease by ionising radiation

Used in the treatment of malignancies

Question 2

Why is it used?

Answer 2

By Ionising radiation it can penetrate tissues and alter the nuclear material i.e. DNA disrupting cell growth and reproduction.

Damaging human calls causes apoptosis. It causes molecule to break up = free rads which can cuase further damage

Question 3

Advantage of radiotherapy?

Answer 3

targeted to damage cancer cells

healthy cells can recover

Question 4

Why are Alpha and gamma radiation are more likely to cause tissue or cell damage?

Answer 4

Because they are more effective at producing ionisation

They are therefore the preferred treatment in comparison to beta radiation or neutrons for treating malignancies

Question 5

State when Radiotherapy may be used as a treatment?

Answer 5

To treat cancer as a stand alone treatment
To shrink a tumour before surgery
To reduce cancer returning after surgery
To control symptoms or to reduce pain if cancer has progressed and is no longer treatable
To reduce the growth of cells – Graves disease
Palliative radiotherapy

Question 6

What are the types of radiotherapy?

Answer 6

External = Supplied from outside the body

Internal = Utilizing radioactive implants placed inside the body

Question 7

External Radiotherapy

Answer 7

Given over several days
Has a marked target
Patient must be motionless
Painless procedure

Question 8

Conformal radiotherapy (CRT)

Answer 8

AKA - 3D CRT
Uses metal blocks to direct beam
More closely target the shape of the tumour
Routinely used for Prostate Cancer

Question 9

Internal Radiotherapy

Answer 9

AKA - brachytherapy
Given once / twice
Short hospital stay
Radioactive wires or seeds (radioactive gold or Iodine) put into affected area
Permanent (small amounts (seeds) of ionising radiation placed in tumour- degrade over time)
Radioactivity monitored using a Geiger counter
Limit contact with people

Question 10

Factors affecting side effects of radiotherapy?

Answer 10

Caused by damage to healthy cells- may take time to recover

BUT

Dependant on area being treated
Dose of radiation
Physical wellbeing at the time of treatment

Can appear during treatment
Or weeks/months after treatment

Question 11

Side effects of radiotherapy?

Answer 11

1. Tiredness due to exertion of going to treatment, anaemia due to destruction of erythrocytes and decreased 02 carry capacity
2. Nausea & sickness this depends on area receiving treatment, some feel sick at beginning, during, post treatment. can be treated by changing diet and anti-emetics
3. Sore skin and hair loss
4. Muscle and Joint pain caused by stiffness and swelling. Treat with Light exercise/physiotherapy
5. Fertility and loss of libido - women early menopause and men prostate impotence

Question 12

Risks of Radiotherapy

Answer 12

Increased dose- increases slight risk to normal cells and could cause cancer!

Question 13

Hyperfractionated radiotherapy

Answer 13

Increasing frequency of fractions-more than one a day
Treatment given over 12 days rather than 4-6weeks
Total dose the same
Requires a stay in hospital
Only available in a few centres

Question 14

Hypofractionated radiotherapy

Answer 14

Increase dose of radiotherapy per fraction lower frequency of fractions.
Overall a reduction in total amount of radiotherapy received
Assess reduction in side effects and reduction in risk of recurrence of the cancer

Question 15

Stereotactic radiotherapy

Answer 15

Used to treat small round tumours in the head
Used to treat a number of benign conditions:
Pituitary adenomas
Acoustic neuromas
Growths at the base of the skull (meningiomas)