Patients will then return on schedule to complete the treatment course. These are called status checks. Patients should inform the radiation oncologist of any new symptoms. The side effects of the radiation depend on the exact type of tumor treated and the location of the radiation treatment. These are x-ray pictures taken on the treatment machine which are used to ascertain the accuracy of the treatment plan.
Radiation works best when it is given in small doses over several sessions.
In this way, it can kill the tumor cells and yet allow sufficient time for the normal healthy cells around the tumor to repair any damage from the radiation. Brachytherapy is radiation at short distances. The source of radiation is made in the form of wires, seeds or plaques and are inserted into the tumor for delivering high doses of radiation. These radioactive sources are Cesium, Iridium and Iodine. This type of treatment is very effective in certain types of cancer, such as cancer of the cervix, certain forms of head and neck cancer, and lung cancer.