The number of cancer patients is constantly increasing. The fight against cancer is becoming the main challenge of modern medicine. The increased incidence is accompanied by the development of new treatment methods, including radiotherapy, which effectively destroys cancer cells through the use of radiation. Modern technologies have made modern radiotherapy as precise as surgery, but it does not have to use a scalpel.
Radiotherapy is a method of local treatment, with the impact limited to the site of the tumor. It uses ionizing radiation, a special type of energy, invisible and imperceptible to the patient. It is emitted by a specialized device called a linear accelerator. The mechanism of action of radiation is to damage the genetic material (DNA) of the cancer cell, which in turn leads to the reversal of the cancer disease (radical radiotherapy). This process is extended over time, so the effects of treatment may only be visible many weeks or months after the end of radiotherapy. This type of treatment can also be used to reduce the burden of cancer (symptomatic radiotherapy).
Treatment for each patient is planned individually. It depends on the advancement of the cancer, symptoms and comorbidities. Radiotherapy may be used:
- with the intention of complete recovery (radical radiotherapy) , or
- in order to slow down the course of the disease or alleviate its symptoms (symptomatic radiotherapy, also called palliative).
Depending on the method of irradiation, radiotherapy can be divided into two types:
- brachytherapy (BTH) – treatment using a radiation source in direct contact with the tumor,
- teleradiotherapy (RTH) – treatment using a source placed at a certain distance from the tissues, radiation is generated by a linear accelerator.
The Amethyst Radiotherapy Center uses all the latest teleradiotherapy methods, such as 3D conformal radiotherapy, 4D radiotherapy, dose intensity modulation (IMRT), and stereotactic radiotherapy. The latter is often called radiosurgery due to its precision and effectiveness. Stereotactic radiotherapy enables radical treatment of brain, liver, lung and metastatic tumors located in several locations.
The essence of modern radiotherapy is irradiation of the cancerous tumor with maximum protection of healthy tissue. Not only recovery is important, but also the patient's quality of life after therapy. Precise radiotherapy helps avoid many complications, and doctors analyze the impact of radiotherapy on the patient's life over the decades.
Currently, the basis of oncological treatment is combined treatment recommended by all guidelines and standards and most oncological scientific societies in the world. It involves the use of several therapeutic methods in the same patient - most often surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy. Teleradiotherapy and brachytherapy are also used simultaneously, and brachytherapy and chemotherapy are combined. Medicine emphasizes the complementarity of these methods, and comprehensive oncology centers guarantee higher effectiveness in the treatment of patients. Multispecialty Hospital named after L. Rydygiera in Krakow and the Amethyst Radiotherapy Center, thanks to their cooperation, guarantee all patients combined treatment, conducted in one place by a permanent medical team.
Radical and symptomatic (palliative) radiotherapy requires a treatment planning process. It uses computed tomography, resonance imaging and three-dimensional imaging computer programs. In this way, a detailed map of the patient's body is created, enabling precise location of the tumor and then appropriate selection of the number of therapeutic beams and the distribution of radiation doses.
At the Amethyst Radiotherapy Center, an experienced medical team: doctors, medical physicists and electroradiology technicians, as well as nurses, supervise the preparation of treatment plans, the proper operation of devices and the safety of patients. More details on the planning and course of treatment as well as advice on care and nutrition during radiotherapy can be found in the tab For the patient / Valuable articles.
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