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Cancer Patients
Patient Information
Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays from radioactive substances aimed at
a malignant tumor to kill the cancer cells. The radioactive rays prevent
cancer cells from dividing, thus destroying the tumor. Special
lead shields are used to cover healthy tissue and parts of the body not being
treated, reducing damage to the healthy tissue. As technology improves
in radiation therapy, physicians and technicians are able to direct the radiation
rays more accurately, targeting the tumors precisely and reducing damage to
healthy tissue adjacent to tumors.
Radiation treatments for cancer take only a few minutes
and often are given over a period of several weeks. Dye or felt-tip
markers are used to mark the target area on the skin to be sure the radiation
is aimed right at the cancer. These marks are needed until treatments are
finished.
In some cases, radiation is not beamed through a machine
but instead comes from radioactive material placed in or near the tumor.
Surgery and other procedures are used to insert radiation implants, known as “seeds” in
the tumor. This technique allows cancer cells to be destroyed from inside the
body. When people have a radiation implant in place, other people or
animals can be harmed by the implants, and are not allowed too close to the
patient until it is removed.
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