Download Cancer Cells and Radiation

Cancer Cells and
Radiation
By Dominika Cornejo
What is Radiation
Therapy?
Radiation therapy uses high-energy particles or
waves, such as x-rays, gamma rays, electron beams,
or protons, to destroy or damage cancer cells. Other
names for radiation therapy are radiotherapy,
irradiation, or x-ray therapy.
How Does Radiation Kill
Cancer Cells?
Radiation therapy kills cancer cells by damaging their
DNA
This can be achieved by either direct damage to the
DNA or by creating free radicals within the cells that
damage the DNA
A cancer cell can’t grow or divide anymore when its
genes are damaged by radiation
Over time the cell dies
Types of Radiation
Therapy
External-beam radiation therapy
Delivered by a machine outside of the body
Internal radiation therapy (brachytherapy)
Radioactive material is placed inside the body near cancer cells
Systematic radiation therapy
Radioactive material travels through the body and is absorbed by cancer
cells
Can be given in one of three ways:
By mouth-a capsule or solution
By intravenous injection-radioactive material is injected directly into a
vein
By instillation-the radioactive material is placed into a body cavity
Equipment Needed
CT Scans (MRI, PET Scans, and Ultrasounds are sometimes taken
as well)
A head mask during the scan is also provided to prevent the
movement of the patient’s head
Varian Trilogy Linear Accelerator with on-board imaging (OBI)
Optical guidance system, respiratory gating
Stereotactic radiosurgery/radiotherapy (SRS/SRT)
Electronic portal imaging
120 Multi-leaf Collimator (MLC)
Side Effects
Side effects depend on a number of factors:
area of the body being treated, the dose given per day, the total dose
given, the patient’s general medical condition, and other treatments
given at the same time
Possible side effects:
Skin irritation
Hair loss
Urinary problems
Salivary gland damage
Fatigue
Nausea (with or without vomiting)
Fibrosis
Damage to the bowels (causes diarrhea and/or bleeding
Memory loss
Infertility
Development of a second cancer due to radiation exposure (Rarely
happens)
A Patient Undergoing Radiation Therapy
http://betastuffs.blogspot.com/2011/12/drugs-double-efficacy-of-radiation.html
Works Cited
Bauke Schievink. “A Patient Undergoing Radiation Therapy.” Photograph. Beta
Blog. 19 December
2011. Web. 3 February 2013.
<http://betastuffs.blogspot.com/2011/12/drugs-doubleefficacy-of-radiation.html>.
Mayo Clinic Staff. Radiation therapy. Mayo Clinic. Web. 3 February 2013.
<http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/radiation-therapy/MY00299>.
Radiation Therapy. The Free Dictionary by Farlex. Web. 3 February 2013.
dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/radiation+therapy>.
Radiation Therapy Equipment. Good Samaritan Hospital. Web. 3 February 2013.
<http://www.gshs.org/body.cfm?id=1112>.
Radiation Therapy for Cancer. National Cancer Institute. Web. 3 February 2013.
<http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Therapy/radiation>.
<http://medical-