Sugárkezelések

Sugárkezelések, often referred to as radiation therapy or radiotherapy, is a medical treatment that uses high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. It is a common and effective form of cancer treatment, either used alone or in combination with other therapies like surgery and chemotherapy.

The radiation used in these treatments is typically delivered by a machine called a linear accelerator, which can precisely target the tumor while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissues. There are two main types of radiation therapy: external beam radiation therapy, where the radiation comes from a source outside the body, and internal radiation therapy (brachytherapy), where a radioactive source is placed inside the body, close to the tumor.

The planning and delivery of radiation therapy are highly specialized processes. A radiation oncologist, along with a team of physicists, dosimetrists, and radiation therapists, carefully design a treatment plan tailored to the individual patient and their specific cancer. This plan outlines the dose of radiation, the number of treatment sessions, and the precise areas to be targeted.

Radiation therapy works by damaging the DNA of cancer cells, preventing them from growing and dividing. While it can also affect healthy cells, the body's normal cells are generally better at repairing themselves than cancer cells. Side effects can occur, depending on the area of the body being treated and the total dose of radiation, and often include fatigue, skin irritation, and localized symptoms related to the treated area. These side effects are usually managed by the medical team.