RELIANCE INSTITUTE OF NURSING

LIMTRA DHAMTARI

RADIATION THERAPY

PRESENTED BY:
MR. OM VERMA
MSc lecturer
 INTRIDUCTION

Radiation is usually the treatment of

choice for squamous cell carcinoma of the
cervix, depending on the stage of the
cancer.
 DEFINITION

RADIATION MEANS EMISSION

(produce) & PROPAGATION
(treatment) OF ENERGY THROUGH
SPACE OR THROUGH A MATERIAL
MEDIUM IN THE FORM OF WAVES.
RAM SHARAN
RADIATION THERAPY USES HIGH
ENERGY IONISING RADIATION TO
KILL CANCER.IONISING RADIATION
HAS THE ABILITY TO PENETRATE
TISSUE CELL & DEPOSIT ENERGY
WITH IN THEM.
MOSBY
ACCORDING TO JOYCE.M.BLACK
It may be used as a primary modality , it is the
‘’

only treatment used and aims to achieve local

cure of the cancer.’’

ACCORDING TO BRUNNER AND SUDDHARTH

‘’Radiation therapy is the use of a certain type of energy to kill
cancer cells and shrink tumour . Radiation therapy injuries or
destroys cells in the area being treated by damaging their
genetic material.’’
 PURPOSE

To kill the cancer cells.

To shrink the tumor.
To make the tumor easier to
remove
during surgery.
 TYPES
EXTERNAL RT
INTERNAL RT
• EXTERNAL RT
IT REFERS TO RADIATION DELIVERED
FROM A SOURCE PLACED AT SOME
DISTANCE FROM THE TARGET SITE.
• INTERNAL RT
IT INVOLVES PLACEMENT OF SPECIALLY
PREPARED RADIOISOTOPES DIRECTLY
INTO OR NEAR THE TUMOUR ITSELF OR
INTO THE SYSTEMIC CIRCULATION.
MECHANISM
OF
ACTION
Mechanism of action of Radiation
• These are explained by direct or
target theory and indirect theory
• Direct: Radiant energy acts by a
direct hit on the target molecules
within the cell causes ionization and
ejection of the orbital electrons. This
causes damage to the cell.
• DNA molecule is the most important
target of radiation in the cell,
especially its linkages and bonds.
 Tissue tolerance to
radiotherapy
Amount of energy transferred: The rate at which energy is transferred
from ionizing radiations to the expose tissue is called as linear energy
transfer (LET)
• Oxygenation of tissues: Due to high proliferation potential of a tumor,
tissue amount is unable to receive required circulation. Thus many cells
are hypoxic and also radio resistant.
• Radiation therapy is more effective in oxygenated cells. So it is always
attempted to increase the oxygenation of tissues which is attempted by
the use of high pressure oxygen tanks, blood substitutes that carry
increased oxygen, hypoxic cell radiosensitizer drugs such as
misonidazole and metronidazole , and hypoxic cytotoxins (tissue poisons),
such as tirapazamine.
• Oxygen is a potent radiosensitizer, increasing the effectiveness of a
given dose of radiation by forming DNAdamaging free radicals.
• The radio sensitivity is directly proportional to the mitotic activity of the
cell and indirectly proportional to their level of specialization.
DOSE
Dose

• TECHNIQUES • Teletherapy: source of radiation is

at a distance from the lesion. Superficial x- ray
therapy works in the energy range of 60- 100 KeV.
For eg in small superficial lesion of skin.

• DEEP X-RAY THERAPY: energy range of 200-

300 KeV for eg small shallow lesion,
• SUPERVOLTAGE THERAPY: linear accelerator
(1 MeV to 20 MeV) or cyclotron and through
isotopic xray machine with cobalt or cesium in a
sealed form eg. small deep lesions or substantial
lesions
• TOTAL BODY IRRADIATION (TBI) IS A
RADIATION THERAPY technique used to prepare
the body to receive a bone marrow transplant. .
 BRACHYTHERAPY
• The therapeutic use of radioisotopes either Within the
interstitium (Interstitial Brachy therapy: 198Au, 60CO
etc) or On the surface of a neoplasm (Pliesotherapy:
90Sr) or
Systemically administered (systemic brachytherapy ;
131 I and 32P). Extensive lesions and specific
malignant conditions (leukaemia, thyroid cancer etc is
treated with systemic fluid isotope therapy)
 PAIN

SKIN SIDE
FATIG
IRRITA EFFEC
UE
TION TS

NAUSE
A
 FIBROS
IS

COMPLIC LATE
ATION IN SIDE HAIR
BREAST EFFEC LOSS
TS

DRY
MOUTH
 NURSING RESPONSIBILITIES
FOR
EITHER EXTERNAL
OR
INTERNAL RADIATION THERAPY
1. Reassure the patient by clearing all fear about the effect of radio
therapy.
2. Explain the procedure to patient like equipment, to be used, duration
of procedure.
3. If radio plant is used for radio therapy, patient should be informed
about restriction of moments.
4 . Assess patient skin, nutritional status.
5. Skin is protected from radiation. Advice the patient to avoid use of
lotion, powder and ointment.
6. Advice the patient not to remove the marking of skin that is used to
specific the area for radiation.
7. Oral hygiene has to be maintained gently by using soft brush.
8. Patient should be taught about the precaution that has to be taken
when implant get dislodged.
9. Instruct the patient to eat a balance diet.
10. Instruct the patient to avoid sun exposure.
COMPLICATIONS OF RADIOTHERAPY:

•The immediate complications are seen within

minutes or days after irradiation e.g., epilation ,
moist desquamation of skin, skin erythema ,
chromosome aberration, haematological
depression etc, and in human beings it is Damage
to the epithelial surfaces, Mouth and throat sores,
Intestinal discomfort, Infertility, Swelling