Radiotherapy uses radiation (high-energy X-rays or radioactive source) to effectively destroy cancer cells by blocking their ability to multiply.
Thanks to modern radiation techniques, the radiation is targeted at the tumor, which protects the surrounding healthy organs as much as possible and makes the treatment much easier to bear.
Radiotherapy is given alone or in combination with other treatments (chemotherapy, surgery, etc.) and this after consultation with all the doctors who provide care for the patient.
There are many indications for radiotherapy treatment
- Relieve a symptom (pain, cough, bleeding)
- Stop tumor evolution
- Prevent a recurrence (preventive radiotherapy)
- Etc.
How is radiotherapy treatment prepared?
Radiotherapy is carried out in 2 stages:
- scouting simulation
- treatment
Scouting simulation
The objective of the preparation is to define the best position to allow for the most precise and comfortable irradiation treatment possible. The area to be irradiated will then be localized.
The areas to be irradiated are delimited by marks on the skin (microtattoos). Be careful, the product may stain clothes. If possible, wear a black or dark T-shirt or a black or dark shirt on the day of the simulation. You can take a shower normally. Then a "Scouting" CT scan will be carried out.
On the day of the scouting session, fast 3 hours before the appointment if the doctor has advised you to do so. It takes 45 minutes for this preparation session.
Treatment
The treatment can be carried out in a single session or in several sessions, spread over 2 to 7 weeks.
Thanks to the new radiotherapy machines, a radiotherapy session lasts only 3 to 5 minutes a day but allow 15 minutes for the entire treatment (discussion with the nurses, placement, control X-ray, etc.). Sessions are scheduled every day of the week, except Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.
Every week or every 15 days, the radiotherapist will see you for a consultation, right after your radiotherapy session, to check that the treatment is going well and to ensure that it is well tolerated.
Treatment outcomes will not be assessed until one month after treatment has ended.
Side effects of radiotherapy
The rays are painless and invisible at the time of the session.
The effects appear after several sessions and are most of the time moderate and reversible. They also vary according to the irradiated area:
- In the abdomen: inflammation of the intestines (cramps, diarrhea, false needs, nausea, bleeding - very rare), irritation of the bladder (frequent need to urinate, decreased urinary flow, incontinence)
- In the chest: irritation of the esophagus and respiratory tract (difficulty swallowing, burning, coughing, shortness of breath, etc.)
- In the mouth: decreased taste, reduced salivation, canker sores (need for regular dental follow-up), discomfort, or even pain when swallowing
- Skin: redness, tingling, pigmentation disorders, blisters, heat, dryness
- In the head: hair loss in places, loss of immediate memory, difficulty concentrating, headaches
- At the level of the genitals: risk of infertility, impotence
Radiotherapy is not accompanied by hair loss except in the case of irradiation of the scalp.
You may experience fatigue over the course of the sessions or a decrease in appetite and weight. These side effects are normally transient and usually disappear within a few weeks after treatment is completed. Their intensity and duration vary from one person to another.
