What is adjuvant radiation therapy?

Adjuvant radiation therapy is supplied after treatment with primary therapy cancer. Primary therapy, usually surgery, is first used to remove Canceor growth or reduce tumor size. Adjuvant therapy follows to destroy the remaining cancer cells to prevent repetition in the same organ or to reduce metastases or spread to neighboring tissues. Primary therapy specifically focuses on the tumor site. Radiation can be used as primary or adjuvant therapy. Adjuvant radiation therapy is often used after primary breast cancer therapy and prostate cancer. The radiation reduces the tumor when used as primary therapy. When used as adjuvant therapy, it kills radiation cancer cells that primary therapy could leave unharmed.

The type of radiation, dose and frequency of sessions depends on the type and severity of the cancer. External radiation is usually supplied in daily sessions. This session usually spreads over a few weeks.

Internal radiation or brachytherapy consists of small radioactive pellets placed in or near the tumor. Cancer cells are destroyed by radiation that is emitted as implanted particles. The pellets will completely fall apart in several myeks for several months. The advantage of internal radiation therapy is that the particles are able to supply a higher dose of radiation than the radiation of the outer beam, but without so much damage to healthy cells - thus causing less side effects.

Adjuvant radiation therapy is unable to distinguish normal, healthy bUnky from cancer cells. Although therapy can focus on the body near the original tumor, radiation can affect and damage normal cells. The side effects vary depending on the location of the treatment, but the most common side effects include fatigue, nausea and vomiting. Other side effects such as loss of memory, intestinal damage or infertility could occur for some time after treatment. In rare cases, adjuvant radiation therapy damages normal cells and creates a new cancer tumor called secondary cancer.