by Victoria Dame

Created on: May 26, 2008

What is radiation therapy? Radiation therapy is when a radiation oncologist uses a high-energy x-ray, electron beams, or radioactive isotopes to attack cancer. Radiation therapy kills cancer cells by damaging the chromosomes of the cells so that it cannot multiply.

When my sister-in-law was diagnosed with cervical cancer she was told after her surgery to remove the cancer that she would have to undergo radiation therpy for six weeks. She had it five days a week and was left to rest on the weekends.

Radiation therapy is a local treatment which means it is aimed directly at the cancer. Most of the time it is not used as a single treatment but as an enhancement for chemotherapy. When used with chemotherapy it will shrink a tumor before it is removed. If the tumor cannot be removed then it is used to get rid of the pain, bleeding or blockages.

Patients when told they have to undergo radiation treatments are afraid that they will feel pain from intense heat, but rest assured there is no heat, light, or sound associated with this treatment.

What happens is the patient lies on a treatment couch for a few minutes. The exact time really depends on body size, the size of the tumor and the size of the area being treated. This area is known as the treatment field.

During this treatment at least you are able to breathe normally, which surprises a lot of patients. How many times have you had x-rays and you were told "hold your breath, now breath." No physical restraints are use unless the patient is disoriented and unaware of his or her surroundings. They would probably use them on me as I'm told I am most of the time disoriented as to time and space. Young children, senile older people and severely ill patients may require some physical restraints or tranquilizers.

You know most treatment rooms today are quite pleasant and you can even have music piped in to break the silence for the few minutes you are in there. Every effort is made for your comfort. After the first treatment most patients are very relieved as they find that there really is no pain.

Now if you are too ill to travel on your on have a friend, ambulance service or relative to drive you there. Some of my best memories are my trips with my sister-in-law as I took her for her treatments. We laughed and talked, or we cried and prayed every day for the two weeks of treatment she had.

If you are not too ill to travel on your own then you should have no trouble driving yourself there and back home for your treatments, unless

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