Radiation Treatment For Skin Cancer

Radiation treatment for skin cancer - Radiotherapy kills cancer cells using high-energy rays (e.g., X-rays) or particles (such as photons, electrons, or protons). When is radiation therapy used? In areas of the skin where tumors are very large or difficult to remove by surgery, radiation treatment can be used as a primary treatment. Radiation therapy can also be useful for patients who are unable to undergo surgery for other health reasons.

Radiation therapy can often cause basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell cells to heal and delay the proliferation of more advanced cancers. Radiation is also useful when used in conjunction with other treatments. Radiation treatment for skin cancer - For example, radiation may be used after surgery as a supplementary treatment (additional) for killing the remaining cancer cells in a small area that may not be seen during the surgical procedure. This lowers the risk of cancer returning after surgery.

Radiation also serves to treat skin cancers that spread to lymph nodes or other organs. How is radiation therapy done? When using radiation therapy to treat skin cancer, radiation concentrates on the tumor from the outside of the body. This is often done in the type of radiation called electron beam radiation. It uses an electron beam that does not advance deeper than the skin. Radiation treatment for skin cancer - This will help to limit the side effects to other organs and tissues. Receiving radiation treatment is the same as receiving X-rays, but the radiation is stronger and more accurately directed to cancer. The procedure itself does not involve pain.

It takes time, but each treatment lasts only a few minutes, even when you are ready to undergo treatment. The radiation side effects are usually limited to the area where the radiation was acquired and include: "skin irritation, redness to blistering peeling, skin discoloration, hair loss in the area undergoing treatment, making saliva, gland and tooth damage when treating cancer this structure is near". (See Also: What Does Skin Cancer Look Like on Your Face)

Radiation treatment for skin cancer - With longer treatment, these side effects may deteriorate. Over the years, new skin cancers may develop in areas that have been previously treated with radiation. Because of this, radiation in the treatment of skin cancer in young people is usually not used. Radiation may also have a higher risk for those with connective tissue disease (e.g., lupus or scleroderma, etc.), which may degrade new cancers or radiation (eg, Basal cells are not recommended for people with specific inheritance conditions such as nevus syndrome or pigmented dry skin.