Merit And Demerit of Radiation Therapy
Mesothelioma is a deadly form of cancer. In recent years of the incidence of mesothelioma has increased in the United States. Actually this disease is caused by the fine fibers of asbestos. When we inhale such fine fibers, it starts affecting the lungs and heart, and gradually it mutate the healthy cells. The symptoms of mesothelioma will appear years after in our body only if we were exposed top asbestos. However, the cases of mesothelioma are also reported without any exposure to asbestos.
The most flip side of this disease is that it has no effective way of cure. However the doctor are trying to check its progress b y different means. In recent years, radiation therapy is increasingly used for this purpose. Radiation therapy is also known by other names like radiotherapy, X-ray therapy or irradiation. Under this process of radiotherapy, radiation energy is used to kill the affected cells and thereby the size of the tumor shrinks itself. This radiation therapy can be used internally and externally. This radiotherapy is used to destroy any type of solid tumor. Cancer at different parts of our body like brain, breast, lungs, larynx, stomach, prostrate and many other places can be handled effectively. The doses of radiation and its intensity depend upon different factors like radio-sensitivity of the organs.
The radiotherapy no doubt has been proved effective in some cases. But in many cases, its effectiveness is not clear yet. However, the side effect of the radiotherapy is the most important thing to consider. The radiation that is applied on the affected organ not only destroys the affected cells but also cause severe damage to the healthy cells around. The radiation affects the genetic property of the cells also. Apart of this, other side effects are well known like vomiting, nausea, infertility, hair loss etc. However, proton therapy is not associated with so many side effects.