What is radiation?
(Why is this important?)
So we can better inform our autonomy, duh.
Radiation therapy, also known as radiotherapy, is a form of cancer treatment that kills cancer cells and shrinks tumors by destroying cancer cell DNA. Radiation is a typical form of cancer treatment and is often used in conjunction with other forms of cancer treatments to increase their effectiveness.
People often wonder about side effects and cons of radiation, and how those are addressed and managed. Radiation can cause headaches, nausea, and other short-term illnesses. Some symptoms persist long-term. Radiation also can kill healthy cells, which can take months to recuperate, if they ever do. The good news is that side effects and risks are minimized by standardized limits on the amount of radiation someone may receive for a specific area of the body. Do communicate with your doctor about your dosage.
There are two types of radiation administered, depending on the type and severity of cancer being treated. External beam radiation therapy involves a machine targeting specific places on the body, while internal radiation therapy includes a device or pill to be inserted and target cancer internally.
Through all of this, the most important thing is to communicate with your doctor, and to ask questions about anything that is unclear or unaddressed.
Tip: If you're over 18 and nervous about going to appointments/treatment alone, there's no shame in asking a parent or friend to come with.