Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy |
| Radiotherapy is an effective treatment for many cancers. Radiotherapy is the use of high radiation, usually x-rays or gamma rays to kill cancer cells or injure them so they cannot grow and multiply. Radiotherapy is used alone, or with chemotherapy and/or surgery. Radiotherapy is painless and usually takes a few minutes each time. Radiotherapy is usually given each day, over 4-6 weeks. If radiotherapy is part of your child's treatment, the radiotherapy healthcare team will arrange your child's appointments and give you information about the treatment, possible side effects and how to manage them. Before radiotherapy begins, the radiotherapy scientist/technician does 'planning' - working out the exact position in which to place your child. This allows the radiotherapy to be given at the right place each time. Radiotherapy is a very effective treatment for cancer but it can damage some healthy cells close to the area being treated. This can cause short term and long term side effects. The side effects will depend on how much radiation is used and the part of the body that is being treated. Not all children will have all of the possible side effects. For more information about radiotherapy please refer to The Information Book Edition 2.1, Section 4:5 and the Total Body Irradiation leaflet. |