Treating Cancer With X-ray Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy is an important cancer treatment. At least half of the cancer patients in the United States receive radiation therapy every year. X-rays are often used in radiation therapy. How are X-rays produced? How do we use X-rays to treat cancer? This article answers these questions and explains the physics behind radiation therapy.

Feasibility of commercially available underwear during radiation therapy for breast cancer: build-up and surface dose measurements

Aim: When patients receive radiation therapy for breast cancer, they need to take off their underwear to avoid build-up effects. However, it is a mental burden for female patients to take off their underwear at every fraction of radiation therapy. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether commercially available thin underwear can be worn during radiation therapy for breast cancer. Materials and methods: In this phantom study, we investigated whether commercially available underwear can be worn during radiation therapy for breast cancer using six thin non-disposable brassieres and one disposable paper brassiere. The dose increase rate (ΔD) was calculated by measuring skin doses with or without each brassiere. Results: The mean ΔD values of six non-disposable brassieres were 13.5% (9.0–21.8%), whereas that of disposable ones was 2.0%. Findings: Due to the risk of excessive radiation to the skin, wearing commercially available underwear is not recommended during radiation therapy for breast cancer, but a thin disposable paper brassiere may be safe to be used.

Radiation-induced side effects in breast cancer patients and factors affecting them

Breast cancer is the most frequent malignancy and the leading cause of cancer morbidity and mortality in women worldwide. Radiation therapy (RT) is a widely used approach for its treatment. About 50% of patients with malignant breast tumors receive radiation therapy and most of them appear to tolerate it, but some experience severe side effects induced by this therapy. This variability of response may be caused by several factors, like age, inflammatory responses, body weight and variation in genes involved in the response to radiation-induced DNA damage. To limit radiotherapy side effects in breast cancer patients it is therefore important to have a good knowledge of these associated factors. This review discussed about the radiotherapy-related side effects in breast cancer patients and the factors affecting them. Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. June 2020, 6(2): 138-148

Where Do Patients With Cancer in Iowa Receive Radiation Therapy?

The authors examine access issues in Iowa and determine a methodology for conducting a national analysis.