Intensity-Modulated Radiation
Intensity-modulated radiation therapy is a procedure that's used for head, neck, prostate, and breast cancers. The procedure involves a scan being taken of the cancerous area, and a three dimensional picture of the tumor being generated. Once that picture has been made, the image is loaded into a computer. The computer controls linear accelerators, which will deliver intense radiation only to the afflicted areas found on the scan. This method is expensive as far as technology gies, but it minimizes the amount of radiation that healthy skin is exposed to, focusing instead on the area of the tumor.
External Beam Therapy
External beam therapy is a procedure that's very similar to intensity-modulated radiation therapy. A beam of high intensity X-rays is created outside of the patient's body, and it is then directed towards the area of their cancours growth. These beams are also generated through the use of linear accelerators, but they are not computer controlled. With careful treatment layout and planning, however, external beam therapy can also save the tissue surrounding the tumor from as much damage as possible.
Brachytherapy
Brachytherapy is a procedure that, due to the way it works, gives many patients pause. Unlike the previous two methods where radiation is directed into the patient's body from the outside, brachytherapy places a radioactive source inside the patient's body next to the tumor. This procedure has its advantages, though. With brachytherapy, the radiation is more intense, and it can be used to treat a small area in a much shorter time. It does, however, require that radioactive material be left inside the patient's body, which is an idea many people wouldn't be comfortable with.
Tags: patient body, procedure that, beam therapy, inside patient, inside patient body
