Patient Information

Patient Experience: Radiation

Radiation therapy is the use of high-energy radiation to treat cancer. Many patients with cancer are treated with radiation therapy because it is highly successful in destroying cancer cells and has few side effects. Radiation therapy works because it destroys the ability of the cancer cells to reproduce, causing those cells to die. Cancers most commonly treated with radiation therapy include uterine cancer, cervical cancer, vulvar cancer and vaginal cancer.

The source of radiation can be administered externally, by generating a radiation beam from a linear accelerator, or internally by placing an applicator containing radioactive material directly into or near the body tissues or cavities. This internal radiation therapy is called brachytherapy, and is given either alone or in conjunction with external radiation.

Procedures

• External radiation
• Brachytherapy
• Tandem and ovoid brachytherapy
• Vaginal cylinder
• Interstitial brachytherapy