What is the advantage and disadvantage of radiation?

Chemotherapy damages cancer cells while radiation therapy damages the DNA of the cancer cells, causing them to die. Chemotherapy generally causes more side effects than radiation therapy, such as hair loss, anemia, and severe nausea.

What does radiation therapy damage?

Radiation therapy damages cells by destroying the genetic material that controls how cells grow and divide. While both healthy and cancerous cells are damaged by radiation therapy, the goal of radiation therapy is to destroy as few normal, healthy cells as possible.

What are the risks and benefits of radiotherapy?

As well as killing cancer cells, radiotherapy can damage some healthy cells in the area being treated….This can cause some side effects, such as:

• sore, red skin.
• feeling tired.
• hair loss in the area being treated.
• feeling sick.
• losing your appetite.
• a sore mouth.
• diarrhoea.

What are the positives of radiation?

Benefits and Effectiveness Radiation therapy (also called radiotherapy) is a highly effective cancer treatment with wide-ranging uses. Radiation therapy leads to cancer cure in many patients (either alone or with other treatments) and relieves symptoms or prolongs survival in more advanced cancers.

What are the cons of radiation?

Radiation not only kills or slows the growth of cancer cells, it can also affect nearby healthy cells. Damage to healthy cells can cause side effects….

• Diarrhea.
• Fatigue.
• Hair loss.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Skin changes.
• Urinary and bladder changes.

What is the success rate of radiation?

When it comes to early stages of disease, patients very frequently do well with either brachytherapy or external beam radiation. Success rates of around 90\% or higher can be achieved with either approach.

What are the three main adverse effects of radiotherapy?

Treatment Areas and Possible Side Effects

• Fatigue.
• Hair loss.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Skin changes.
• Headache.
• Blurry vision.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of radiation therapy?

Radiation therapy can also cause problems with tissues, glands or organs near the site of the treatment. Long-term side effects can include the growth of scar tissue, infertility and damage to other areas the body, depending on the location of the radiation treatment.

What are the dangers of radiation therapy?

Arm swelling (lymphedema) if the lymph nodes under the arm are treated

Damage or complications leading to removal of an implant in women who have a mastectomy and undergo breast reconstruction with an implant

Rib fracture or chest wall tenderness,rarely

Inflamed lung tissue or heart damage,rarely

What are the risks of being a radiation therapist?

Like any other treatment, there are risks and potential side effects in radiation therapy. In the case of external beam radiation, the main short-term effects include swelling and heaviness in the breast, skin changes in the treated area, and fatigue.

What should you know about radiation therapy?

9 Things to Know About Radiation Therapy Radiation stops the rapid growth of cancer cells. Radiation damages DNA inside cells. Radiation therapy may be part of a cure or palliative therapy. The goal of radiation therapy varies depending on the type of cancer and its stage. Doctors use radiation therapy alone or with other cancer treatments.