Radiation oncology is the branch of medicine dealing with tumors. The medical specialists who work in this field may diagnose, counsel, prescribe, perform tests and treat patients with tumors, whether they’re cancerous or benign. Radiation therapy is one technique used to treat cancerous tumors and drain affected lymph nodes to prevent malignant spread. To avoid damaging perfectly healthy tissue, several radiation beams from different angles are sent to intersect at the tumor, which leads to a larger dose within the tumor itself only.

While radiation oncology professionals say that radiology oncology is safe, there are possible side effects. Skin reactions similar to sunburn are common, as is fatigue and weakness. Hair loss may occur in the area being treated but will usually grow back following the treatment. Some people report discomfort while swallowing, nausea, diarrhea and ulceration of the mucus membrane. While receiving this therapy, white blood cell counts decrease, which makes a patient more susceptible to infection. Often the side effects resolve themselves within a few months of finishing treatment.

The success of radiation oncology depends upon the size of the tumor and the type of cancer. For example, there are highly radiosensitive cancer cells — like leukemia, lymphomas and germ cell tumors. So if lymphoma is found in one localized area, there is a good probability the cancer can be eradicated. On the other hand, some tumors are radio-resistant, such as renal cell cancer, melanoma and metastatic cancers that have spread throughout the whole body. While radiotherapy may be prescribed along with another treatment, the medical problem cannot be helped by radiation alone.

After treatment — whether it’s surgery, radiation therapy or chemotherapy — a radiation oncology specialist will usually run an MRI scan, a CT scan or a PET scan to see if the tumor has shrunk, remained the same or grown. The downside of radiation treatment is that the tests and procedures are very expensive. Currently Medicare and Medicaid are considering cutting their expenditures for oncology and radiology services, which will affect quality of care for many Americans. Other cancer treatment options may include surgery, laparoscopic removal and chemotherapy.

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