Question 1

how will we know if the radiation therapy is working?

Accepted Answer

Depends on cancer: The success rates for radiation therapy vary depending on the type and size of the cancer.

Question 2

is there a way to tell if my radiation therapy is working?

Accepted Answer

Not really: During treatment weekly or sometimes daily films are taken however these films are used to verify your alignment and not really for monitoring your response.  Most typically you have to wait until after treatment has been completed and then have imaging studies and/or a physical examination to gage the response that you've had to treatment.

Question 3

how quickly following radiation therapy can they do tests to see if it's working?

Accepted Answer

It depends on type o: It depends on type of cancer(Diagnosis). Some Cancers respond faster such as Lymphoma where response can be observed after 1 month of treatment. Solid tumors take 2 to 3 months to show tumor regression on imaging studies. Physical examination can provide early leads of tumor shrinkage or lack of it, over a period of 1 to 2 months after starting radiation.

Question 4

can i exercise while im having radiation therapy? i exercise almost every day, and i dont feel right when i dont. now im about to start radiation therapy. will i still be able to exercise?

Accepted Answer

Although : Although it might depend on the type of treatment you are receiving, in general we like to encourage patients to stay active during radiation.  Exercise has many positive benefits. We actually have a program designed to encourage patients to get more active while under treatment.  It would be important to discuss your specific situiaton with your physician.

Question 5

for what reason aren't patients shielded when they are receiving radiation therapy?

Accepted Answer

Shields are built in: Radiation therapy machines have the shields built in to them.  These shape the radiation to fit the area of the body that needs to be treated and protects the rest.  Additionally, it takes many inches if lead to block the radiation used for external beam treatment and a person cannot wear a shield thick enough to block the beam.

Question 6

what is radiation therapy?

Accepted Answer

Kill cancer by Rads: Use of high energy x-ray typically ( protons, gamma rays etc to name a few other) to cause irreparable damage to a target tumor to destroy the tumor while causing minimal damage to surrounding organs and tissues.

Question 7

is radiation therapy painful?

Accepted Answer

No: Radiation therapy is essentially a high energy x-ray.  So just like getting a ct scan is not painful getting radiation therapy is also not painful.

Question 8

what is radiation therapy useful for?

Accepted Answer

Many things: Radiation therapy is used to decrease the risk of recurrence in breast cancer; it has treatment value in many other cancers including rectal, prostate, head and neck, lung and pancreatic cancers. In addition, it is useful for decreasing pain in cancer which has spread to bone. Lastly, it helps in disease which has traveled to the brain or skin. More uses available but space limited!

Question 9

what is the cost of radiation therapy?

Accepted Answer

Tech + Pro: The equipment and those that run it and plan your treatment and deliver it daily are covered as a medicare technical charge.  The doctor the perscibes and monitors is a second aspect. Together technical and professional charges. Each have cpt - codes for charges. The tech charge pays salaries and depreciation costs for equipment. Doc fees for their expertise.

Question 10

what is the goal of radiation therapy?

Accepted Answer

Cure or Palliation: Depending on the extent of disease involvement and type of tumor being treated, the goal is either curitive or palliative.

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Doctor answers about:

How will we know if the radiation therapy is working

A member asked:

How will we know if the radiation therapy is working?

A member asked:

Is there a way to tell if my radiation therapy is working?

A member asked:

How quickly following radiation therapy can they do tests to see if it's working?

A member asked:

Can i exercise while im having radiation therapy? i exercise almost every day, and i dont feel right when i dont. now im about to start radiation therapy. will i still be able to exercise?

A member asked:

For what reason aren't patients shielded when they are receiving radiation therapy?

A member asked:

What is radiation therapy?

A member asked:

Is radiation therapy painful?

A member asked:

What is radiation therapy useful for?

A member asked:

What is the cost of radiation therapy?

A member asked:

What is the goal of radiation therapy?

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