Part of Saint Vincent Hospital’s full radiation therapy offering is conventional radiation therapy. This is a form of external beam radiation that delivers part of the complete radiation dose to a tumor over many sessions. By only giving a fraction of the full radiation dose, normal cells are able to repair themselves between treatments.
What to Expect with Conventional Cancer Radiation
Conventional cancer radiation works to stop or even destroy a tumor. Some tumors may be sensitive enough that radiation therapy need be the only treatment.
Before undergoing conventional radiation therapy, you’ll meet with a radiation oncologist at Saint Vincent Hospital in order to develop a treatment plan that’s right for you. During your consultation, you’ll discuss the best type of radiation treatment for you, learn more about the treatment process and learn about the possible side effects.
Side effects from conventional radiation therapy vary depending on the tumor type, size, total radiation dose, duration of treatment and amount of healthy tissue near the tumor. Patients may experience temporary and permanent side effects including fatigue, skin irritation and hair loss. To minimize your side effects from conventional radiation therapy, treatments are usually given five days a week, Monday through Friday, for a few weeks.
Is Conventional Radiation Therapy Right for You?
You may be a candidate for conventional radiation therapy if you have a:
- Metastatic (cancer that has spread) tumor
- Prostate tumor
- Lung tumor
- Liver tumor
- Kidney tumor
- Gynecological tumor
- Colon/rectal tumor
- Benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous) tumor of the body
How well your tumor responds to radiation therapy depends on cell type, grade and stage. Results aren’t always apparent right away and may take several months for signs of a response, such as tumor shrinkage or slowing of further growth. Computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or angiography scans will be taken several months after to examine any change.
Learn More
You can find out if you’re a candidate for conventional radiation therapy by meeting with your doctor today. Please contact the Cancer and Wellness Center at (866) 494-3627 if you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment.
