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Radiotherapy |
Radiotherapy (X-ray Treatment)
This type of treatment is not commonly used in thyroid cancer. It
is more often used to treat Anaplastic and Medullary thyroid
cancers but can have a role to play in any type.
The reasons why this type of treatment might be offered are:
- radioactive iodine treatment is not suitable or is not working
- to treat thyroid cancer cells that could not be removed by surgery
- if an operation cannot be done to remove the thyroid gland and thyroid cancer
- to treat thyroid cancer that comes back after treatment
Radiotherapy involves using powerful x ray beams to try and kill
cancer cells whilst allowing the normal cells around the same area
to survive.
The treatment is given in a radiotherapy department and the
machines are called linear accelerators or Linacs.
Treatment is usually given over a period of several weeks on a
Monday to Friday basis (no treatment at the weekends usually). You
may be in the treatment room for a total of about 20 minutes each
day.
It is important to keep the position of your head and neck as still
as possible during treatment so a special see through plastic mask
is usually made that fits snugly around the shape of your face and
neck. There are lots of different types of mask but an example of one of these masks can be seen at http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk/help/default.asp?page=3598
You only wear this whilst you are on the treatment bed. You are
treated lying on your back.
You do not feel anything whilst the x ray beam is switched on but
you can usually hear the machine working.
The treatment is likely to cause some side effects. The commonest
ones are:
- painful swallowing
- dry mouth
- dry, red, painful or blistered skin in the region of the treatment
- altered sense of taste
- tiredness
- (feeling sick/nausea and hair loss are not likely to occur)
The side effects will vary depending on exactly what part of the
body needs treating and your doctor will explain in detail the likely
effects that you might experience and whether they are likely to
be temporary or longer lasting.
For further details go to: www.goingfora.com/oncology/radiotherapy_room.html
Chemotherapy (drug treatment)
This is not commonly used in thyroid cancer and therefore will not
be discussed here. For information on specific chemotherapy drugs, please click this link.
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