The US federal government passed RECA (Radiation Exposure Compensation Act) in 1990. According to UEW Healthcare, this program offers compensation to people suffering a particular health condition because of radiation exposure, either from radiation that nuclear testing released or employment in a uranium mine.
Radiation is also a common cancer treatment. It uses high-energy waves or particles, such as protons, electron beams, gamma rays, or X-rays, to damage or destroy cancer cells.
As a therapeutic service, radiation works by making small breaks inside DNA cells. These small breaks prevent cancer cells from dividing and growing and cause them to die.
Oncologists use different kinds of radiation therapies as therapeutic services to treat cancer patients. These forms of radiation therapies include the following:
1. IORT (intraoperative radiation therapy)
Oncologists use this therapy to treat exposed tumors during surgery. It delivers a high radiation dosage to surgically exposed treatment areas.
Lead shields often protect healthy tissues and organs. An oncologist can use this form of therapy for gastrointestinal cancers and other forms of cancer that are difficult to get rid of through surgery.
2. Systemic Therapy
This form of therapy sends a liquid radioactive material through the blood to locate and kill cancer cells. Some radioactive materials are swallowed, while others get injected through an IV or vein.
The treatment often includes radioimmunotherapy (radionuclide therapy). A radionuclide is a radioactive protein that recognizes specific cancer cells, attaches to them, and releases radiation to destroy them.
3. Radioembolization
During this therapy, the source of radiation stays close to the tumor. Usually, the radiation travels a short distance, meaning its effects happen to the tumor.
However, you have to avoid getting into contact with other people for one week following the treatment. Pregnant women and children are some of the people you should avoid close contact with.
4. Brachytherapy
During the procedure, the encapsulated radioactive source is often put in the body, enabling medical experts to deliver a high radiation dosage directly to the tumor with just little impact on all the surrounding organs or tissues.
Medical experts can place the source permanently or temporarily. Experts insert a capsule with cobalt, iridium, or cesium sources for a temporary application through a special applicator or needle.
Depending on the source’s dose, the capsule may remain in the patient’s body for a few minutes or days. In permanent application, a doctor inserts an implant into the body to target the tumor with radiation before it loses its radioactivity.
5. TRUS (robotic transrectal ultrasound)
As a guided radiation therapy, medical experts directly insert tiny radioactive seeds into a patient’s prostate gland via small needles. Oncologists also use ultrasound video images to see the patient’s prostate during the treatment and ensure the seeds get implanted correctly.
The bottom line is that planning is key. Through planning, your healthcare team will decide the dose and type of radiation you should get. This will depend on the type of cancer, treatment goals, and overall health. Planning is important to get the focus and dose of the radiation beam right. Accuracy will ensure less harm to your healthy cells and tissues around tumors or cancer.
