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The search for the best treatment for cancer is not over yet. This is despite the coming of various treatment methods which promise to deliver mind blowing results. Today, the list of methods for treating cancer is actually endless. Both reliable unreliable treatment methods make the list. There are radiation, herbal, surgical and regular medical treatment methods which are used to treat cancer. One of the best radiation based treatment methods is radiation oncology. It is by far one of the most prolific treatment methods which attracts scores of patients from all parts of the world. In more recent years, it has grown to become a viable way to kill cancer cells in the body while preserving the normal cells. Today, many cancer patients are opting to use this method based on its track record of producing amazing treatment results.
But, there are certain things that cancer patients have to bear in mind before they can choose to use the method. Here is a look at some of the most important information about radiation oncology that all cancer patients are supposed to bear in mind. It is important to call the following to mind to avoid being shocked by the outcomes of the treatment.
This may be shocking to anyone learning about this for the first time. But, it is actually very true. If you undergo the treatment procedure, you will be at risk of ending up with body cells whose wellbeing has been compromised by the high doses of radiation. Experts often come up with an estimate of the required radiation doses to destroy the cancer cells while leaving the healthy cells unharmed. But, these estimates may still be short of meeting the required dosage of radiation that is only enough to destroy the cancer cells without affecting the healthy cells. This is what makes the therapy risky.
In an event that you undergo he radiation oncology treatment procedure and you end up with side effects, you may find it hard to reverse them. This is mainly because most of the adverse effects of the treatment are hard to reverse. For example, destruction of internal body organs following exposure to radiation may be hard to reverse. The heart is usually one of the organs at risk of being damaged by the therapy.
Before you can undergo this treatment procedure, make sure you are in the hands of experts. Based on the intricate nature of the procedure and the side effects thereof, it is only supposed to be handled by hospitals and specialists with certification to administer the treatment. Make sure the treatment centre you are visiting meets this requirement.
Although the therapy has been used by many cancer patients to reduce the spreading of cancer cells, the certainty of realising the desired outcome of the treatment is usually hard to determine. There are always chances of ending up with severe side effects. Patients are usually informed in advance before they can sign up for the therapy. In some cases, the therapy may be chosen if it is the last resort.
This is perhaps one of the major reasons why the procedure is not always used. It has the capacity to pave way for other forms of cancer. The cancer may not develop in a few days, but it may develop after a few years have elapsed. In some cases, radiation oncology may be used alongside other forms of cancer treatment to reduce the chances of destructing healthy body cells and subsequently laying a foundation for other forms of cancer in future.
These are some of the major issues that are associated with radiation oncology. Every cancer patient with prospects of undergoing the therapy has to be aware of these issues in order to avoid being caught by surprised by the outcomes of the treatment.
If you have prospects of undergoing the treatment procedure, you should consult your doctor for technical advice.