How does radiotherapy help brain tumors?
9 doctors weighed in:
How does radiotherapy help brain tumors?
9 doctors weighed in
Dr. James Urbanic
Radiation Oncology
In brief:
Killing cancer cells
Radiaiton therapy uses high energy x-rays to cause injury to cancer cells.
It is used in many cases were surgery is either not possible or even despite surgery, there will be cancer cells left behind. Radiation in general works by either killing or injurying cancer cells so that they either die off directly or die off as they try and grow/divide. The normal body is able to recover by healing.
In brief:
Killing cancer cells
Radiaiton therapy uses high energy x-rays to cause injury to cancer cells.
It is used in many cases were surgery is either not possible or even despite surgery, there will be cancer cells left behind. Radiation in general works by either killing or injurying cancer cells so that they either die off directly or die off as they try and grow/divide. The normal body is able to recover by healing.
Dr. James Urbanic
Thank
Dr. Jeffrey Buchsbaum
Radiation Oncology
In brief:
Circuits still work
Both the above are correct.
The reality is that cancer cells anywhere can be kill by radiation. The brain offers a special problem in that very important areas are often right next to tumors, even completely surrouding them. Radiation can kill cancer while normal tissue can repair itself day to day. Technology, perhaps the best being protons, can stop the radiation even millimeters from a tumor.
In brief:
Circuits still work
Both the above are correct.
The reality is that cancer cells anywhere can be kill by radiation. The brain offers a special problem in that very important areas are often right next to tumors, even completely surrouding them. Radiation can kill cancer while normal tissue can repair itself day to day. Technology, perhaps the best being protons, can stop the radiation even millimeters from a tumor.
Dr. Jeffrey Buchsbaum
Thank
Dr. Brian Lawenda
Radiation Oncology
In brief:
Kills cancer cells
The treatment is generally delivered daily (5-days each week) for about 6 weeks.
Thank
Get help from a real doctor now
Dr. Marsha Davis
Board Certified, Internal Medicine
24 years in practice
67M people helped
Continue
107,000 doctors available
