Radiotherapy Flashcards
When are photons used in radiotherapy?
To penetrate deep, sparing skin. Good for deep tumours. Most commonly used radiotherapy
When are electrons used in radiotherapy?
Superficical tumours such as skin, these directly damage DNA.
What machine is used to deliver radiotherapy?
A linear accelerator (LINAC machine)
What is the unit of absorbed dose of radation?
Gray (Gy) units
Which tumours are particularly sensitive to radiotherapy?
Seminoma, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, lung carcinoma
Give 2 tumours that show a poor response to radiotherapy.
Melanoma and glioblastoma multiforme
Give some acute side effects of radiotherapy for breast cancer.
Skin reactions, fatigue, rash, skin thickening, pain around scar. Rarer - dysphagia and pneumonitis
Give some late side effects of radiotherapy for breast cancer.
Shrinking of breast tissue, fibrosis in breast, pulmonary fibrosis. Rarer - telangiectasia, cardiomyopathy, secondary cancer
Give some acute side effects of radiotherapy for prostate cancer.
Skin reaction, fatigue, diarrhoea, tenesmus, cystitis, nausea, hot flushes
Give some late side effects of radiotherapy for prostate cancer.
Impotence, urinary Sx, bowel problems, proctitis, telangiectasia, fibrosis, sexual dysfunction, infertility, secondary cancer (usually bladder)
Give some acute side effects of radiotherapy for head and neck cancer.
Skin reaction, fatigue, mouth/throat soreness, oral mucositis, xerostomia, dysphagia, voice changes, taste changes, nausea, earaches, tooth decay, hair loss, osteonecrosis, tinnitus.
Give some late side effects of radiotherapy for head and neck cancer.
Xerostomia, difficulty swallowing, hearing changes, tooth decay, secondary cancer
What is a ‘fraction’?
The radiation delivered to a patient during a single treatment session.
