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Treatment of Radiation Necrosis
November 15, 2018
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For those suffering from cancer, radiation therapy can be a lifesaver. While it has been very effective for millions of people, it can be an uncomfortable treatment that presents new health issues that need to be addressed to live a comfortable life.
Hyperbaric oxygen treatment, or HBOT, allows patients to fight the damaging effects of radiation treatment. In this month’s post, we’ll take a close look at…
What is radiation therapy?Radiation therapy uses high doses of radiation such as high-energy x-ray or electron, photon, or proton beams to kill cancerous cells and ultimately eliminate cancer from the body.
Radiation therapy destroys the DNA of the cancerous cells. When this happens, cancer cells stop dividing and growing, thus helping stop the growth of the cells and cancer.
Unfortunately, radiation therapy does not immediately kill these cells, nor is it always successful. Additionally, multiple treatments over multiple sessions are likely required. Repeated radiation treatments can eventually kill healthy cells as well, leading to complications.
Common types of radiation therapyThe type of radiation you receive depends on a number of factors, including:
Depending on these factors, you may be treated with with external beam radiation therapy or internal radiation therapy.
Further reading on radiation necrosis & HBOTMore and more research is being done into HBOT and radiation necrosis. Recent studies include…
Complications associated with radiation therapyMany patients experience complications as a result of undergoing radiation therapy. These complications include:
Most of these issues are short-term, developing within 6 months of the treatment. Fortunately, these generally resolve themselves you have a chance to recover from the radiation treatment.
However, there are some long-term complications that could develop.
Radiation NecrosisRadiation necrosis is when healthy tissue dies along with the cancerous tissue when undergoing radiation therapy. This generally happens when soft tissue and muscle tissue die and build up, forming a new tumor in the place of the old tumor. Some studies have suggested up to 24% of radiation treatments lead to radiation necrosis, with 10-15% developing symptoms.
Radiation necrosis can develop to be a major problem for the central nervous system. In fact, long-term issues stemming from radiation necrosis can develop as a result of radiation treatment.
Additionally, when you are suffering from radiation necrosis, your body may have difficulty building new tissue, fighting infection, or healing skin.
Radiation necrosis develops after radiation therapy has ended, and can develop in the months and years following treatment. Complications, including a reemergence of the initial tumors symptoms and a temporary decline in long-term memory, may develop.
In addition to the redevelopment of a tumor, common symptoms include:
Unfortunately, in some cases radiation necrosis can be fatal if not treated.
Treating radiation necrosisGiven the danger of radiation necrosis, treating the condition, as well and attending to the symptoms, is extremely important once you’ve been diagnosed.
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