Radiotherapy: Definition, Procedure, Side Effects, and Costs

Radiotherapy: Definition, Procedure, Side Effects, and Costs

What is Radiotherapy?

Radiotherapy is a treatment method used in the management of many types of cancer and certain diseases. Particularly utilized in destroying cancerous cells, the radiotherapy method is also employed to prevent disease progression and development, as well as to help manage pain associated with the disease.

What is Radiotherapy?

The primary goal of radiotherapy is to damage and destroy cancerous cells. During these procedures, healthy cells may also sustain damage. However, as a result of this damage, while healthy cells can repair themselves, damaged cancer cells cannot regenerate and begin to die.

Radiotherapy can be used as monotherapy for some cancers such as prostate and laryngeal cancer, depending on the individual case; for other conditions such as breast cancer, radiotherapy alone may not be sufficient and may need to be combined with chemotherapy, as determined by the treating physician.

In radiotherapy, tumor size reduction is often one of the objectives. Before surgery, cancerous cells present in the body may need to be reduced to certain dimensions to enable surgical intervention. After tumor reduction is achieved through radiotherapy, the patient may become a candidate for surgery. Alternatively, following surgical removal of cancerous tissue, radiotherapy may be performed to address remaining small fragments of malignant tissue in the area.

As briefly mentioned above, radiotherapy is the treatment of cancer diseases using ionizing radiation. The Radiation Oncology Department in hospitals addresses this matter. The goal of radiotherapy is to intervene in cancerous cells using radiation to reduce their size.

These rays affect cells in tissue. Healthy cells that sustain damage can generally regenerate themselves. However, cancerous cells that suffer radiation damage typically cannot repair themselves and die off. Radiotherapy is utilized both to reduce the size of the cancerous area before surgery and to address remaining cancer fragments after surgery.

Radiotherapy can be used alone in cancer treatment, or the treatment process can proceed with concurrent surgical intervention and/or chemotherapy support, depending on the physician's assessment.

Side Effects of Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy, also known as radiation therapy among the general public, varies depending on how the treated area is affected, the extent of the effect, and the cancer type. These symptoms may appear within 1-2 weeks following radiotherapy treatment, or conditions such as cancer recurrence may manifest over years. The most commonly reported side effects of radiotherapy can be explained as follows:

• Weakness and fatigue
• Nausea and vomiting
• Hair loss
• Skin rashes
• Skin dryness
• Itching
• Skin peeling
• Diarrhea
• Dry mouth and difficulty swallowing
• Mouth ulcers
• Eye dryness
• Sexual dysfunction
• Difficulty with urination
• Lymphedema
• Secondary cancer development

How is Radiotherapy Performed?

In cancerous diseases, radiotherapy used to address malignant cells is applied in two ways with current technology. One is applied externally, the other internally.

External (Extracorporeal) Radiotherapy

In most cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy, the treatment is performed externally. This treatment is generally conducted either at treatment centers or outpatient clinics. In this procedure utilizing radiotherapy equipment, radiation treatment is applied to diseased tissues.

During this application, the target area containing the disease and cancer is selected, and radiation is directed to that location. Consequently, cancerous cells receiving radiation begin to sustain damage. As they cannot repair themselves, they may shrink.

Radiotherapy, alternatively known as radiation therapy, is a treatment type applied according to the patient's and cancer's condition, as determined by the treating physician. It is administered in sessions. Generally, treatment may extend over a period of 1-10 weeks, at 5 days per week. Sessions are tailored to suit the patient in cooperation with the physician. The duration of radiotherapy can range from 10-30 minutes depending on the patient and disease.

During radiotherapy (radiation therapy), the patient receiving treatment is placed on a stretcher to begin procedures. First, areas not undergoing radiation therapy are covered with protective layers. Personnel preparing the patient for treatment must wear protective clothing. After the patient is prepared for treatment, the personnel move to the protected area nearby and monitor the patient's condition from there.

During the procedure, patients generally do not report significant pain, though individual experiences may vary, and can often communicate with the treating personnel if desired. Radiation targets the cancerous tissue and is applied to that area at the determined intensity and duration.

Following radiotherapy treatment, the patient and their condition should be monitored by the physician. The effectiveness of the treatment performed and factors such as changes in cancer cell dimensions should be followed up using imaging and laboratory tests. The patient should be examined in detail after radiotherapy, and any potential side effects should be investigated, with medication therapy initiated if the physician deems it necessary.

Internal (Intracavitary) Radiotherapy

In this application, a radioactive substance is placed within the cancerous tumor. This application can also be performed by placement into body cavities. During surgery undergone by the patient during cancer treatment, when malignant tissue is removed, placement may be made in the remaining void.

Radiotherapy Costs in Turkey

As in many fields, Turkey has made technological and scientific advances in the medical field and offers radiotherapy treatment options. Treatment centers and clinics are generally equipped with modern technology, and physicians in this field have relevant training and experience.

Receiving treatment at hospitals with appropriate physical and clinical infrastructure may affect the treatment process. In terms of geographic location, transportation from both European and Middle Eastern countries is accessible.

The price issue varies depending on the hospital visited and the disease. Factors such as cancer stage, the amount of radiotherapy to be received, and certain additional treatment methods that may need to be added affect the price. For detailed information regarding radiotherapy costs in Turkey, it would be appropriate to contact relevant healthcare centers directly.

How Long Does Radiotherapy Last?

Depending on the patient's and disease's condition, it may continue between 1-10 weeks, at 5 days per week. During this process, short breaks can be taken to allow healthy cells affected during intervention on cancerous tissues to regenerate. Session duration ranges from 10-30 minutes depending on the patient and disease.

Does Radiotherapy Cause Hair Loss?

It varies depending on where radiotherapy is applied. If radiation therapy is applied to the head region, hair loss may occur. If radiation therapy is applied to a different area, hair loss is less likely, though individual responses can vary; consult your physician for guidance specific to your situation.

What is External Radiotherapy?

As described in detail above, it is the radiotherapy method performed externally. This method is generally applied to most patients. During this treatment, rays are directed externally to the diseased area.

What is Stereotactic Radiotherapy?

In this method, known briefly as SRS (Stereotactic Radiosurgery), high-dose radiation delivered in varying intensity is directed to a well-defined area in certain regions of the head or brain.

Despite having "surgery" in its name, it is not a surgical intervention. This method may be used in treating cancers that have metastasized to the brain, benign tumors, or areas previously treated with radiotherapy, depending on the physician's evaluation.

The application of this treatment is planned and performed by a team including radiation therapists, medical physicists, and nurses.

Does Radiotherapy Reduce Tumor Size?

The primary goal of radiotherapy is to affect the cancer area by applying radiation. During this process, both cancerous cells and a small amount of healthy cells sustain damage. Healthy cells generally possess the ability to regenerate themselves. However, the same does not typically apply to cancer cells and tumors. These diseased cells, often unable to repair themselves, may begin to shrink.

This treatment may facilitate preparing difficult-to-operate tumors for surgery by reducing their size. It may also be used following surgery to address small remaining diseased cells from the treated area.