Cancer is currently a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the world and its treatment consumes a major portion of healthcare expenditures. About one in every three people will develop cancer in their lifetime and over one half will require radiation as part of their treatment.
Radiation oncology is a medical specialty that focuses on the use of ionizing radiation to treat cancer and other diseases (including benign ones). It is one of the three primary specialties (the other two being surgical and medical oncology), involved in the treatment of cancer. Radiation can be administered as a curative modality, either on its own or in combination with surgery and/or chemotherapy. It may also be used for palliative purposes, to relieve symptoms in patients with incurable cancers. In some countries (excluding the United States), radiotherapy and chemotherapy are controlled by a single oncologist who is a “clinical oncologist.”
Radiation oncologists work closely with other physicians before, during, and after radiation therapy treatments, to maximize the effectiveness of the radiation. Specifically, these physicians include surgical oncologists, interventional radiologists, internal medicine subspecialists, and medical oncologists, as well …show more content…
This is done in order to maximize radiation to the tumor while sparing healthy tissue and organs. Radiation causes some cancer cells to die immediately after treatment, but most die because the radiation damages the chromosomes and DNA so that the cells can no longer divide and the tumor cannot grow. With the discovery of new treatments, the management of cancer has become more challenging and complex, further emphasizing the importance of coordination of input within the multi-disciplinary cancer
Radiation oncology is a medical specialty that focuses on the use of ionizing radiation to treat cancer and other diseases (including benign ones). It is one of the three primary specialties (the other two being surgical and medical oncology), involved in the treatment of cancer. Radiation can be administered as a curative modality, either on its own or in combination with surgery and/or chemotherapy. It may also be used for palliative purposes, to relieve symptoms in patients with incurable cancers. In some countries (excluding the United States), radiotherapy and chemotherapy are controlled by a single oncologist who is a “clinical oncologist.”
Radiation oncologists work closely with other physicians before, during, and after radiation therapy treatments, to maximize the effectiveness of the radiation. Specifically, these physicians include surgical oncologists, interventional radiologists, internal medicine subspecialists, and medical oncologists, as well …show more content…
This is done in order to maximize radiation to the tumor while sparing healthy tissue and organs. Radiation causes some cancer cells to die immediately after treatment, but most die because the radiation damages the chromosomes and DNA so that the cells can no longer divide and the tumor cannot grow. With the discovery of new treatments, the management of cancer has become more challenging and complex, further emphasizing the importance of coordination of input within the multi-disciplinary cancer