Radiation Therapy

Frequently Asked Questions

This is a list of questions frequently asked by radiation therapy patients.  We hope it will be a helpful resource to provide you with more information about Radiation Therapy.

What is radiation therapy?

Radiation is a special kind of energy carried by waves or a stream of particle.  It cna come from special machines or from radioactive substances.  When radiation is used at high doses (many times those used for x-ray exams) it can treat cancer and other illnesses.  Special equipment is used to aim the radiation at tumors or areas of the body where there is disease.  The use of high-energy rays or particles to treat disease is called radiation therapy.  Sometimes it's called radiotherapy, x-ray therapy, electron beam therapy or irradiation.

Does radiation therapy hurt?

Receiving external radiation treatments is painless, just like having an x-ray taken.

Will I go bald?

You will lose hair, but only in the area that is being treated directly.  In other words, radiation to the pelvis or abdomen will not cause you to lose hair on your head.  However, if you are receiving chemotherapy along with radiation, then you may lose all body hair, including the hair from your head.  (Not all chemotherapy drugs cause hair loss.)  In most cases hair will grow back within a few months after all therapy ends.

During my treatment session, will I hear or feel anything?

You will hear the equipment make a "buzzing noise."  You will not feel the radiation treatment.  You cannot see the radiation beam with the bare eye.

Will I feel tired?

Yes, you will feel tired, especially during your third week of treatment and about four to six weeks after you finish your radiation therapy.  However, a four- or five- day treatment alone will not cause fatigue.

What percentage of cancer patients receive radiation therapy?

Approximately 60% of cancer patients receive radiation therapy.  Radiation therapy may be prescribed as the only treatment for the patient, or it may be prescribed in combination with surgery and/or chemotherapy.

Will I become radioactive?

External radiation therapy does not cause your body to become radioactive.

How long does a typical treatment take?

For each external beam radiation treatment session, the patient will be in the treatment room about 15 to 30 minutes, but will be getting the dose of raditaion for only about one to five minutes of that time.

What are some of the cancers treated by radiation therapy?

Skin, head and neck, throat, larynx, breast, brain, prostate, colo-rectal, lung, bone, leukemia, among others.

What about side effects?

Side effects of radiation therapy are most often related to treatment dose and the area that is being treated.  Most side effects that occur during radiation therapy , although unpleaseant, are not serious and can be controlled with medication or diet.  The most common side effects are fatigue, skin changes and loss of appetite.

Can radiation cause cancer?

Overexposure to radiation can cause cancer in some instances, but for the treatment of cancer, therapeutic radiation is used.  Therapeutic radiation uses very limited and targeted amounts of radiation.