Radiation therapy for leukemia in Iran

Average stay in Iran: 10-25 days

---

---

 

Radiation therapy for leukemia

Radiation therapy uses high-power X-rays to kill or prevent cancer cells from growing further. The radiotherapy device delivers energy rays directly, with precise targeting, to the cancerous tumor. The goal of radiation therapy, also called radiotherapy, is to kill cancer cells or shrink the cancerous tumor.

 

Radiation therapy can be used not only as the main method of treatment, but also as a complementary treatment. In this article, we intend to focus more on the topic of leukemia radiation therapy. The topics in this article will focus on the effect of radiotherapy on the treatment of acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) (one of the most severe and common types of leukemia). Stay with us.

Read more about Cause of leukemia | Why do we get leukemia?

When is radiotherapy used to treat acute lymphocytic leukemia?

If the patient has a stem cell transplant. Although this rarely happens, it may expose the entire body to help kill leukemia cells and bone marrow cells. This is called whole body radiation therapy or TBI. TBI is used in combination with chemotherapy and this action can prevent the body from not accepting stem cells. In this method of radiation therapy, the dose of radiation will be the same in all parts of the body.

The patient needs radiation therapy to manage some of the symptoms of cancer. If chemotherapy does not work well, radiation therapy can stop the growth of cancer cells in the bone marrow. Killing cancer cells can help reduce bone marrow pain caused by the formation of acute lymphocytic leukemia cells.

There is a possibility that leukemia cells may invade the patient's central nervous system (CNS). The CNS is something that is present in the human brain and spine. Radiation therapy can be used to prevent the entry and growth of leukemia cells in the CNS. This is called preventative radiation therapy, which can be part of all phases of ALL treatment.

Leukemia cells have spread to the CNS or other organs. Radiation therapy can be used as a treatment focused on leukemia cells in parts of the body. Chemotherapy can not easily reach all parts of the body, and this is because leukemia cells sometimes have places to hide. Radiation therapy targets exactly these hiding places and can kill cancer cells in these places. In rare cases, the cancerous tumor may grow and cause problems with the function of various organs. Radiation therapy can be used to shrink the tumor and improve limb function.
 

Read more about Cancer treatment in Iran.

Preparation before radiation therapy:

A doctor who specializes in treating cancer with radiation therapy is known as an oncologist radiotherapist. This specialist will work with you to determine the right type of radiation therapy you need. It also determines the dose of treatment and the length and number of sessions.

You should have a simulation session before starting the treatment process. Imaging tests, such as MRIs and CT scans, are also taken to determine the exact size, shape, and location of the tumor. Radiation therapy is controlled and shaped to fit the shape of the tumor and to best target it. This helps reduce the risk of damage to surrounding healthy tissues.

On the other hand, in each treatment session, the rays must be shone at exactly the same point as usual. For this purpose, your doctor may use a tattoo-like subcutaneous mole to pinpoint the exact location of the tumor. A colored spot that is very small (you can remove this spot later with special lasers).

 

Side effects of radiation therapy:

Radiation therapy affects healthy cells as much as it does cancer cells. Therefore, you may experience some side effects as a result of this treatment. Radiation dose, frequency of sessions, and area to be treated will all affect the side effects and severity of radiotherapy. Of course, there are some people who experience very few side effects, or even no side effects, as a result of this treatment.

If you have severe side effects, your radiotherapist may change the treatment dose or the interval between sessions. Or it may even stop the radiation therapy to get rid of the side effects. If you have any serious side effects from radiation therapy, it is best to tell your doctor immediately. Treating these side effects sooner is much better than treating them when their condition has worsened.
 

Read more about Cause of leukemia | Why do we get leukemia?

Short-term side effects of radiation therapy:

Anorexia

Diarrhea (in case of abdominal radiation therapy)

Lethargy

Hair loss (in case of head and neck radiation therapy)

Nausea and vomiting

Mouth and throat ulcers

Headache (in case of head radiation therapy)

Inflammation of the skin (including blisters or discoloration of the skin in the treated area)

Infection

Anemia

Read more about Symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of leukemia in Iran

Long-term side effects of radiation therapy:

Persistent skin problems (such as redness of the skin)

Pulmonary inflammation

Decreased growth of bone and soft tissue (often common in children)

Decreased mental development in children who receive radiation therapy to the brain as part of their treatment

Deafness

Blurred vision

Decreased fertility (or complete infertility)

The growth of another type of cancer

Damage to the heart, lungs or kidneys