Radiation therapy uses doses of radiation ... or high energy rays ...
to kill cancer cells and help stop them from spreading.
It may help shrink the cancer ...
and reduce pain and other symptoms from the cancer.
Radiation can be given in different ways ...
depending on where your cancer is and the size of the tumor.
Doctors may use a machine that aims radiation at the part of your body where the cancer is.
This treatment is usually given daily, in small doses ...
during short appointments at a hospital or clinic.
Your care team may mark the areas where you're getting radiation with small spots ...
like tattoos ... so they can find the exact place during each treatment.
Radiation can also be given by placing a small amount of it inside your body, near the cancer.
For example, the radiation may be put in a small capsule that goes into your body.
Radiation is one of the best ways doctors have to treat cancer.
Getting the radiation treatment doesn't hurt.
But it can affect healthy cells along with killing the cancer cells.
So it's common to have side effects ... like mouth sores or feeling tired ...
or having sore, red skin near the treatment area.
Side effects depend on the type of radiation you have and how long you get treated.
They aren't the same for everyone ...
and they usually go away after you're done with treatments.
Your medical team will help you manage side effects.
And there are things you can do at home too.
It will help to take extra good care of yourself by eating well ... and staying active.
You may need to limit how much you do ... depending on how you feel.
If it's possible, adjusting your schedule can help you rest when you need to and save your energy.
Getting radiation can be stressful ... and it's a lot to deal with.
But knowing what to expect can help you prepare and can make things easier.
