Radiotherapy or Radiation therapy is a key part of cancer treatment. In India, Advancements in this field are providing hope to millions of patients.
What is Radiotherapy and its benefits?
Radiotherapy targets cancer cells with high-energy radiation. This radiation damages the cancer cells’ DNA, preventing them from multiplying.
The body then eliminates these damaged cells. This treatment can shrink tumors and eradicate cancer cells. It targets only the affected area, minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissues.
Advancements in Radiotherapy Technology India has seen significant improvements in radiotherapy technology.
Modern techniques like IMRT and VMAT offer precise targeting of tumors. They reduce side effects.
Radiotherapy has benefits. It can be a stand-alone treatment or used with surgery and chemotherapy.
It helps with cutting tumor size before surgery. Killing leftover cancer cells after surgery. Easing symptoms in advanced cancers.
Radiotherapy is a common cancer treatment. It destroys cancer cells by damaging their DNA with high radiation doses.
This process stops the cells from growing and dividing. You can use the treatment on its own or alongside surgery and chemotherapy.
The goal is to cut harm to healthy cells. This targets cancer cells with precision.
Reasons for Radio therapy
1. Destroying Cancer Cells
Radiotherapy targets and destroys cancer cells by damaging their DNA.
This prevents the cells from growing and dividing, ultimately leading to their death.
It is particularly effective in treating localized cancers that have not spread to other parts of the body.
2. Shrinking Tumors Before Surgery
In some cases, radiotherapy is used before surgery to shrink tumors, making them easier to remove.
This approach, known as neoadjuvant therapy, can increase the likelihood of a successful surgery and reduce the risk of complications.
3. Preventing Cancer Recurrence
After surgery, radiotherapy can be used to kill any remaining cancer cells that may not have been removed.
This is known as adjuvant therapy. It helps reduce the risk of cancer recurrence and improves long-term survival rates.
4. Relieving Symptoms in Advanced Cancer
For patients with advanced or metastatic cancer, radiotherapy can relieve symptoms palliatively.
These symptoms include pain, bleeding, or pressure. This can greatly improve their lives.
5. Treating Inoperable Tumors
Some tumors are located in areas that are difficult to operate on or are too large to be removed surgically.
In such cases, radiotherapy can be the primary treatment to control the growth of the tumor and manage the disease.
6. Combined with Other Treatments
Radiotherapy is often used in combination with other treatments, such as chemotherapy and immunotherapy, to enhance their effectiveness.
This multimodal approach can be more effective in treating certain types of cancer.
7. Minimally Invasive and Precise
Modern radiotherapy techniques, such as Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT) and Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS),allow for highly precise targeting of tumors.
This lessens adverse effects and damages to nearby healthy tissues as little as possible.