Radiation Therapy

"MacDonald Option" in Radiation Therapy Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," A friend was told that he would be treated for cancer using the "MacDonald option". Could you please elaborate? Richard Whittington, MD, Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology at the University of...
3D- Radiation versus IMRT versus Proton Therapy Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," What are the differences between IMRT, 3-D radiation, and proton therapy? What is the best choice for a patient? Eric Shinohara, MD, MSCI Radiation Oncology Section Editor for OncoLink responds: The issue of IMRT...
Late cardiac side effects of Hodgkin's treatment Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," I had Hodgkin's disease 15 years ago and had full mantle radiation. I know two women who also had Hodgkin's. They both had to have open-heart surgery this year. One doctor told one of my friends it was due to the...
Considerations for Choosing Partial Breast Irradiation Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," What factors need to be considered when choosing partial breast irradiation (type of tumor, size, and stage)? My doctor told me my age (44yo) was also a factor. Terry Styles, MD, Assistant Professor of Radiation...
CyberKnife for Bone Metastases Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," Is there any information on the use of CyberKnife to treat bone metastases in the chest area [that are] associated with recurrent NSCLC? Carolyn Vachani RN, MSN, AOCN, OncoLink's Nurse Educator, responds:There have...
Does Obesity Affect Radiation Treatments? Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," I had a biopsy of my prostate, Gleason 7 [4+3], after a digital rectal examination (DRE) revealed a nodule on the left side of my prostate. I think I am a stage T2a or b, not sure. I'm 51 years old and obese,...
Exercise during radiation Therapy Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," I am currently having radiotherapy for invasive breast cancer. I had surgery 12 weeks ago and the tumor was removed within a 1 mm margin of healthy tissue and very close to the muscle. I would like to play tennis and...
Hair Growth after Radiation to the Head Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," I have had 14 radiation treatments to my brain and have lost a lot of my hair. Will my hair loss from radiation grow back? I understand that hair lost after chemotherapy will eventually come back, but what about when...
How Long After Radiation Can Tumor Keep Shrinking? Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," How long after stopping radiation can you continue to see tumor shrinkage? Richard Whittington, MD, Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, responds:This is a...
How Long Does Radiation Work? Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," After completing 25 external [beam] radiation treatments for a pineal region tumor, how long does the radiation keep working to destroy a tumor in the brain: is it weeks, months, or years? MRI 's have shown [that] my...
IMRT for squamous cell carcinoma of the tonsil Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," My son had a squamous cell carcinoma removed from his tonsil. Radiation has been recommended. New IMRT equipment has come into the equation but it is not yet available within the facility where my son is being...
IMRT^TM: Patient Information and Frequently Asked Questions Copyright © 2001 Varian Medical Systems, Inc. How does radiation therapy work? Cancer cells grow and divide more rapidly than many of the normal cells around them. High doses of radiation can kill cells or keep them from growing and...
Prevent Hair Loss with Tempol Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," I saw the article on Tempol and alopecia and was wondered about the follow-up data on that study. I already had whole brain radiation at a high dose (3750cGy). I am wondering if researchers have found anything to help...
PSA After Proton Therapy for Prostate Cancer Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," Prior to commencing 44 treatments of proton radiation therapy at Loma Linda Medical Center in January 2007 for prostate cancer, my PSA was 8.5 and Gleason score was 5. Almost 4 months after my last proton treatment,...
Radiation Colitis Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," What is radiation colitis? Richard Whittington, MD, Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, responds:Radiation Colitis is a manifestation of inflammation...
Radiation Exposure to Others during I-131 Therapy Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," My mother-in-law received radiation treatments to her thyroid some time ago, and it somehow affected her husband's thyroid function. Their doctors informed them that their proximity to one another during/after...
Radiation Pneumonitis Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," My husband has lung cancer; it was a tumor in an area of the lung that made surgery impossible. He had radiation treatments about six months ago and the tumor shrunk a lot. He has recently developed terrible problems...
Radiation Safety Issues Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," If someone is receiving internal radiation therapy (brachytherapy) for cervical cancer treatment, is she emitting rays that would affect other people? Is it safe for the patient to be close to a baby?Neha Vapiwala ,...
Raditaion Therapy and Obesity Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," I am a 60 year old female diagnosed with breast cancer, for which I underwent lumpectomy. I am 300 pounds and have been turned down by several radiation facilities due to my weight and the ability of the machine to...
Skin care for radiation therapy patients Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," Is it always necessary to remove the dressing on a radiodermitis wound during radiation therapy? What kind of products can be used during therapy and which products and dressings cannot be used? Ruth Collins,...
Sun Exposure After Radiation Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," I had 35 radiation treatments about five years ago and was told not to go out in the sun. After this length of time, is it OK to be in the sun if I apply sunscreen with a SPF 15 or above? Neha Vapiwala , MD, Senior...
Treatment for Esophagitis Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," My brother in law's last radiation treatment was 2 weeks ago. He still has pain and trouble swallowing. I believe the term is acute esophagitis. Can you tell me how long this lasts after radiation treatment is...
Vaginal stenosis after radiation to the rectal/lower abdomen area Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," Can you tell me please if it is unusual for radiation to the rectal/lower abdomen area to cause vaginal stenosis? Richard Whittington, MD, Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology at the University of...
Whole brain radiation therapy for CNS lymphoma Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," My mother has Primary Central Nervous System (CNS) Lymphoma. After 6 IV methotrexate treatments, her doctor has recommended radiation. What type of radiation procedures do you provide? I assume whole-brain radiation...
Why not radiate 7 days a week? Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," My brother in Taiwan has stage IV colon cancer. He is currently undergoing radiation on his spine, 5 days/week. He is also receiving chemotherapy. He wants me to ask if 7 days/week of radiation treatment works better?...