The Ins and Outs of Prostate Cancer & Radiation Oncology

Radiation therapy (sometimes called radiotherapy) uses high-energy rays (or concentrated particles) to find and destroy cancer cells in a specific part of the body.

For prostate cancer, radiation therapy may be used as a primary treatment if the cancer is confined to the prostate and low grade or if the cancer has grown to nearby tissue. If the cancer is not removed completely after surgical oncology, radiation may also be used. Also, if the cancer is advanced, an oncologist may recommend radiotherapy to control the cancer for as long as possible and relieve the cancer symptoms.

How Does it Work?

There are two main types of radiotherapy clinical oncology used for prostate cancer: brachytherapy and external-beam radiation therapy. Brachytherapy is internal, injected into the cancerous area, and external-beam is, as expected, external, with beams similar to an x-ray.

What Are the Side Effects?

Side effects of radiation include fatigue, rectal irritation (like bowel urgency, discomfort, diarrhea, or frequent and uncomfortable urination), dry skin, and possible hair loss in the pelvic area. There’s a chance the hair loss may be permanent.

In some rare instances, radiation can cause impotence in men, and this typically presents itself 1-3 years after the treatment. Be sure to take necessary steps before starting treatment if you still want to start or expand your family, and keep up with your doctor’s appointments after finishing treatment.

Written by: Joanna Hynes

The Ins and Outs of Lung Cancer & Radiation Oncology

Is Radiation Oncology Right for You?

Radiation therapy (or radiotherapy) is often a primary treatment for lung cancer. It’s sometimes referred to as a palliative measure, which improves the patient’s quality of life if their disease does not respond to surgery or chemotherapy. Radiation therapy can also be used before surgery to shrink the tumor and make it more manageable or after surgery to eliminate any remaining cancerous cells. Radiation therapy can also be used if the lung cancer has spread to other parts of the body.

There are two types of lung cancer: small-cell lung cancer (typically found in current or former smokers) and non-small-cell lung cancer (grows slowly over time), and the treatment differs slightly for both.

Small-cell lung cancer is less common but more aggressive. Radiation therapy is often paired with chemotherapy to combat this type of cancer. Surgery is not used as often because it spreads so quickly.

Non-small-cell lung cancer takes a long time to spread beyond the lung, so local treatments (surgery and radiation) are typically used.

How Does Radiation Oncology Work?

There are three main types of radiation oncology for lung cancer: external beam radiation therapy,  internal radiation therapy, and systemic radiation therapy.

External beam radiation is a large machine, similar to an x-ray, that beams the radiation into a specific part of your body. The internal radiation works internally; either implants are placed close to/inside the tumor or injected through a catheter. Systemic radiation therapy is swallowed or injected into the blood to travel throughout the body.

What Are the Side Effects?

Radiation therapy can help with some of the cancer’s side effects like shortness of breath. However, there are some side effects of radiation to be aware of. Patients should be prepared for fatigue following treatments, so it’s important to get a lot of rest, as well as a possible loss of appetite.

Patients can also experience hair loss in the chest area, though there’s a chance this is only temporary. Skin irritation is fairly common (red, dry, tender, itchy - similar to a sunburn), so ask your doctor about soothing creams. Patients should avoid very hot water, perfumes, cosmetics, and deodorants. Instead, you can keep it clean with gentle soap and warm water, and use sunscreen when outside.

More serious side effects include esophagitis (inflamed tract connecting your mouth to your stomach) and radiation pneumonitis (coughing and shortness of breath), though these are less common and often clear up after treatment.

Remember, this is simply an overview as each patient should receive an individualized treatment plan. Believe in their guidance but make sure you’re open with your oncologist about your needs and how you’re feeling so they can give you the best care possible.

Written by: Joanna Hynes

The Ins and Outs of Breast Cancer & Radiation Oncology

Is it Right for You?

Radiation therapy (or radiotherapy) often follows surgery, like a lumpectomy or mastectomy. The process is meant to target cancer cells that may be left after the surgery. Radiation is very safe and very effective, which is why it is used often. However, it is never appropriate for a woman who is pregnant. Radiation is also not typically used if you have already had radiation in that area previously, if you have a connective tissue disease (for example, scleroderma or vasculitis), or if the daily commitment is too much.

Typically, the radiation treatment following a lumpectomy (tumor removal) will target the whole breast. A lumpectomy and radiation is usually recommended to patients with cancer in its early stages, a tumor that is 4 centimeters or smaller, located just on one side, and is removed with clear margins.

Mastectomies remove the entire breast, though it’s difficult to remove every cell of breast tissue. Therefore, many doctors will recommend radiation after the mastectomy to be sure there’s a smaller chance of recurrence. A mastectomy and radiation is usually recommended to patients with cancer equating 5 centimeters or larger (including one large lump or several smaller lumps), cancer invading lymph channels or blood vessels, removed tissue with a positive margin or resection, infected lymph nodes or skin. Breast cancer statistics show that radiation can help reduce the risk of recurrence by 70%.

How Does it Work?

Radiation therapy finds and kills invasive breast cancer cells, typically found near the breast and armpit area. The treatment is used to target and destroy undetectable cancer cells and reduce the risk of recurrence. There are two kinds of radiation: External Beam Breast Cancer Radiation and Internal Breast Cancer Radiation.

The external beam is the traditional way involving a large machine, similar to an x-ray. The beam targets cancer cells for 2-3 minutes and involves multiple appointments in an outpatient center.

The internal radiation is a newer treatment that injects the radiation into the affected area, so only part of the breast, typically. The doctor may use needles, wires, or a catheter to inject the radiation.

What Are the Side Effects?

According to Susan G. Komen, there are a number of radiation effects to be aware of.

In the short term, you should give your body a chance to get used to the radiation. Many patients report having subsiding symptoms as treatment goes on for a few weeks. However, in the beginning, you should be prepared for breast soreness, redness (like a sunburn), and swelling. The skin may also peel (again, like a sunburn), so talk to your doctor about a cream you can use.

While fatigue is also common, other symptoms usually associated with radiation (like nausea and hair loss) are not common with breast cancer radiation. Hair loss may occur, however, near the underarm. In breast cancer for men, hair loss may also occur on the chest.

In the long term, women may experience firmness or shrinkage to their breasts. Lymphedema (swelling due to fluid collection) is also a concern in patients who received radiation therapy to their lymph nodes.

More extreme (and unlikely) side effects include rib fractures, heart problems (which may still occur years after treatment finishes, so stay up to date with your cardiologist), radiation pneumonitis (lung inflammation), and brachial plexopathy (nerve damage in the upper chest).

Make sure you stay open and honest with your doctor about how you’re feeling and what your next steps should be. You don’t want to come off “too tough” for something that ends up growing into a bigger problem. Most of these side effects are easily managed, so let your doctor help you.

Written by: Joanna Hynes