Cancer Treatments

Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy, also known as radiation therapy, is used as a type of energy in medicine for imaging purposes, as well as to treat cancer and some other diseases. Radiation is a special type of energy carried by waves or particles. It can be produced by special devices or released by radioactive substances.

What is Radiotherapy?

Special devices are needed to direct the radiation to the diseased organ. In this way, the use of high-dose radiation energy for treatment is called “radiotherapy” or “radiation therapy”.

In Which Diseases Is Radiotherapy Used?

Radiotherapy is applied in cancer types that can occur in almost any part of the body and in approximately 50% of cancer patients. For some types of cancer, radiotherapy is the only treatment. Radiotherapy is a treatment method that can be applied alone or in combination with surgery and/or drug therapy (“chemotherapy”), in which a full recovery can be achieved in many patients.

Why Radiotherapy?

Radiotherapy is used for the following reasons:

In order to shrink the tumor before surgery,
In order to clean the cancer cells that may have remained at the microscope level in the body after surgery,
Alone as the primary treatment of the disease
For direct treatment with chemotherapy, without surgery,
In some cases where it is not possible to completely cure the disease, radiotherapy can be applied to reduce the patient’s complaints such as pain and bleeding.

How is Radiotherapy Applied?

Radiotherapy is administered in two ways: externally and internally.

External: Radiotherapy is applied externally in most patients. It is an application that is generally performed in treatment centers and outpatient clinics, and it is performed by directing the rays to the diseased tissue using radiotherapy devices. Once the decision is made to administer radiation therapy, the doctor will also decide which device is more suitable for the patient.
Internal: In internal radiation, the radioactive material or source is placed either directly into the tumor or into a body cavity with thin wire or tubes. Sometimes, it can be placed in the remaining space after surgery.

Radiotherapy Treatment Plan

The treatment plan for radiotherapy is prepared specifically for the patients as a result of the necessary examinations. Before starting the radiotherapy treatment, a preparatory session is held together with the computerized planning tomography. Making the treatment plan with computed tomography enables the determination of the tumor or the riskiest areas for the spread of the tumor, as well as the detection of normal tissues that need to be protected.

How much radiation dose the patient needs, how this dose will be given, and how many sessions it will take are determined. Radiation sources used in radiotherapy are diverse. The choice of the radiation source to be used is determined by the type of tumor, its location in the body, and especially its depth. Afterward, the marking of the area to be irradiated is done by the doctor and the treatment is followed up.

Fibo Health provides quality treatment options in Turkey to the patients who are coming from all around the world. Istanbul is one of the most populous cities in the world. There are many hospitals and clinics that provide world-class care for their patients. Fibo Health’s team searches for the best doctors and hospitals, so we make sure to bring you to the most experienced health care professionals in Turkey.