Search: internal radiation therapy

News: Chemotherapy and radiation in childhood can cause rare cancer

Australian children diagnosed with cancer and treated with chemotherapy or radiation therapy are around 50 times more likely to be diagnosed with a secondary therapy-related cancer, compared to the general population. New research by Children’s Health Queensland and Cancer Council…

fraction

The individual, usually once daily, dose of radiation that makes up part of a course of radiation therapy treatment.

tomotherapy

A type of three-dimensional radiation therapy that allows the radiation beams to be shaped around a tumour more precisely.

multileaf collimators

Moveable pieces of metal built into the head of radiation therapy machines to shield normal tissue and organs from the radiation beam.

chemoradiation

Treatment that combines chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

targeted therapies

…or other substances to selectively target proteins or other molecules involved in cancer cell growth. Two types of targeted therapies are drug therapies and immunotherapies. Chemotherapy or radiation therapy affects all cells, but targeted therapies avoid damage to normal cells….

linear accelerator

A machine used in external radiation therapy to treat cancer.

osteoradionecrosis (ORN)

A breakdown of bone tissue due to radiation therapy treatment.

ovarian ablation

Stopping the ovaries from producing oestrogen, which is done surgically (oopherectomy) or with radiation therapy.

palliative treatment

Medical treatment for people with advanced cancer to help them manage pain and other physical and emotional symptoms of cancer. Treatment may include radiation therapy, chemotherapy or other medication. It is an important part of palliative care.