Radiation Therapy FAQ and Patient Stories

Radiation therapy, also known as radiotherapy, uses high doses of radiation to destroy cancer cells and to shrink tumors.

Below, find answers to popular radiation therapy questions and experiences of radiation therapy shared by The Patient Story community.

How does radiation therapy work?

Radiation therapy in high doses destroys or slows down the growth of cancer cells through damaging the cells’ DNA. When the DNA is damaged enough, the cells will stop dividing and die. The body then breaks down and removes those damaged cells.

This process usually takes days or weeks of radiation therapy treatment before the cancer cells suffer enough damage. They continue to die for weeks, sometimes months, after the radiation therapy ends.

The actual process of radiation is pretty short. For the radiation therapy treatment, most of the appointment is usually spent positioning the body correctly.

Types of radiation therapy

Your medical team will decide what kind of radiation therapy to give you based on multiple factors, including:

• Cancer type
• Tumor size and location
• How close the tumor is to normal cells and tissue
• Other cancer treatments you’ll be undergoing
• General health history
• Age
• Other medical conditions

You can break radiation therapy down into two main types:

• External beam:
  • 3-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT)
  • Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT)
  • Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) or stereotactic ablative radiation therapy (SABR)
    
• Internal radiation

External beam radiation therapy (EBRT)

• Commonly treated cancers: Many types
• Process: Most common type of radiation therapy. It’s delivered with machines (linear accelerators) that move around the outside of the body without touching it, which means you should not feel anything or any pain during the treatment.
• Post-therapy: You will be able to be around other people safely after the radiation therapy, as it does not make the patient radioactive.
• Types of EBRT
  • 3-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT): 3D images created by either computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provide physicians a better picture of targeting the tumor
  • Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT): This is similar to the 3D method but with IMRT, the doctor can adjust levels of radiation in each beam. This is meant to help reduce side effects by targeting cancer cells and avoiding normal cells.
  • Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) or stereotactic ablative radiation therapy (SABR): This treatment is thought to be more powerful in destroying cancer cells. If you get this radiation method, you should get it in five or fever treatments.

Internal radiation (Brachytherapy)

• Commonly treated cancers: Head and neck, breast, cervix, prostate, and eye
• Process: Less common type of radiation therapy, usually done outpatient. The physician will likely put small applicators or catheters directly into the treatment area to target the radiation right at the cancer. This can help limit the radiation exposure to normal cells. You will get anesthesia or sedation during the procedure, so the appointment will take some hours.
• Post-therapy:The radiation source is either solid or liquid and may emit radiation for a while.
• Types:
  • Systemic therapy: Internal radiation therapy that uses a liquid source, allowing treatment to travel in the blood throughout tissues in your body to destroy cancer cells. This can be done through oral pill, IV, or injection. Body fluids like sweat, saliva, and urine will emit radiation for a while.
    • Common types are radioactive iodine pill for thyroid cancer and targeted radionuclide therapy, to treat advanced prostate cancer or gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (GEP-NET).

How does radiation work alongside other treatments?

Radiation therapy is sometimes given alone, but mor often than not, there will be other treatments given before, during, or after the radiation.

• Radiation before surgery: Radiation can shrink the size of the tumors and cancer to improve the chances of success for surgical removal.
• Radiation during surgery: Known as “intraoperative radiation,” this radiation is applied directly to the cancer without having to go through the skin.
• Radiation after surgery: To destroy any cancer cells that might remain.

Hear from a radiation oncologist

Hear from radiation oncologist, Dr. Kenneth Biehl.

Radiation therapy stories and experiences

Here are different experiences with radiation therapy, as told by our TPS community members.

External beam radiation therapy (EBRT)

Francina B.


Francina B., Breast Cancer, Stage 2B



Initial Symptoms: None
Treatment: Surgery (lumpectomy, removal of cancerous sentinel nodes); Chemotherapy (doxorubicin, paclitaxel); Radiation
...

Kelsey S., brain cancer



Symptoms: Tingling and numbness in left arm and hand; sensation progressed to her leg; seizures
Treatment:Surgery (craniotomy); radiation; chemotherapy (Temodar )...

Paul K., Rectal Cancer, Stage 3



Symptoms: Frequent bowel movements, loose stools, blood spotting in stool
Treatments: Chemotherapy (CAPOX), radiation, upcoming surgery (colon resection)

...

Ashley V., Non-small cell Lung Cancer, Stage 4



Symptoms: Trouble swallowing, shortness of breath, fatigue, loss of appetite, chest pain, swelling in her body
Treatment:Surgery (removal of lung), chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation...

Ashley S., adrenal cancer



Symptoms: Swollen ankles, very low potassium levels
Treatment:Surgery (removal of tumor, open-heart surgery); chemotherapy (EDP, Cabometyx, Carboplatin, mitotane); immunotherapy (Keytruda); radiation
...

Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)

Heidi N., Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Stage 3A



Symptoms: None; unrelated chest CT scan revealed lung mass & enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes
Treatment: Chemoradiation
...

Steve R., Prostate Cancer, Stage 4, Gleason 6



Symptom: Rising PSA level
Treatments: IMRT (radiation therapy), brachytherapy, surgery, and lutetium-177
...

Brachytherapy

McKenzie E., Cervical Cancer, Stage 3C2



Symptoms: Severe abdominal & back cramping, persistent & extreme pain, heavy discharge & bleeding

Treatments: Radiation, chemotherapy (cisplatin), brachytherapy, immunotherapy (Keytruda)
...

Margie W., Stage 1B, Grade 3



Symptoms: Persistent irregular bleeding

Treatments: Surgery, chemotherapy, brachytherapy
...

Cara R., Cervical Cancer, Stage 2C Symptoms: Lower back pain, abdominal pain, bloating

Treatment: Chemotherapy, radiotherapy, brachytherapy, hormone therapy...

Steve R., Prostate Cancer, Stage 4, Gleason 6



Symptom: Rising PSA level
Treatments: IMRT (radiation therapy), brachytherapy, surgery, and lutetium-177
...

Marissa N., Squamous Cell Cervical Cancer, Stage 3B



Symptoms: Excessive and prolonged vaginal bleeding

Treatment: Chemotherapy (cisplatin), radiation, brachytherapy
...

Lutetium-177

Steve R., Prostate Cancer, Stage 4, Gleason 6



Symptom: Rising PSA level
Treatments: IMRT (radiation therapy), brachytherapy, surgery, and lutetium-177
...

References:

1. www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/types/radiation-therapy
2. www.stanfordhealthcare.org/medical-treatments/r/radiation-therapy/about-this-treatment/types.html