When you are diagnosed with cancer, many questions can come up. One of the most common is, “What is radiation therapy?” As a radiation oncologist in Thane, I feel that knowing about your treatment can help alleviate anxiety and empower you to make informed decisions.

Radiation therapy is a very successful cancer treatment. It uses high-energy rays (such as X-rays, gamma rays, or electron beams) to kill cancer cells. The most common type of external radiation therapy is given by a machine called a linear accelerator (LINAC). At KIMS Hospitals, with the help of advanced technology, we accurately target the tumors, at the same time protecting the surrounding healthy tissues.

Normal cells grow and divide much more slowly than cancer cells. Radiation damages the DNA inside these cancer cells so that they can no longer multiply and eventually die. Some of the nearby healthy cells may also be exposed, but these cells are usually better at repairing themselves than are cancer cells.

Radiation treatment is localized, unlike chemotherapy, which is systemic (affects the entire body). This limits it to the area being treated and reduces unnecessary exposure of the rest of the body. Sometimes radiation therapy is used along with surgery or chemotherapy. Some chemotherapy drugs, called radiosensitizers, can help cancer cells respond better to radiation, leading to better results.

All treatments are planned meticulously for accuracy. You may be put in special masks, molds, or body supports to help you stay in the same position for each session. Remarkable precision is used in the delivery of radiation beams, limiting damage to healthy tissues nearby.

The radiation therapy is normally divided into smaller daily doses, called fractions, administered five days a week for several weeks. This schedule allows healthy tissues to recover between treatments while maintaining the efficacy of the therapy.

The treatment itself is painless and similar to an X-ray. “Each appointment can take about 15 to 30 minutes for positioning and set up, but delivery of the actual radiation is only a few minutes,” he said. Importantly, external radiation therapy does not make you radioactive, so it is completely safe to be around your family and loved ones after treatment. 

Thanks to advances in radiation technology, cancer treatment is safer, more precise, and more effective than ever. If you are advised to undergo radiation therapy, you can get personalized care according to your condition and understand the options with the help of an experienced radiation oncologist in Thane.