Radiation therapy has benefits and side effects just as any other treatment. In the video, radiation oncologist Dr. Peter Rossi briefly discusses the benefits and possible side effects of radiation therapy. Dr. Rossi is a radiation oncologist who specializes in prostate cancer treatment at the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University in Atlanta, Ga.
Benefits
Destroys quickly dividing cells at the margins of tumors. Surgery may miss these cells leading to recurrence of disease.
Can successfully eradicate growth without permanently damaging the adjacent normal tissue. If these tumors can be treated early before metastasis, there is a very high rate of curability.
In conjunction with other treatments, may cure tumors that are not responsive to any single agent.
Radioactive seed implants can deliver high doses of radiation directly to the tumor sparing nearby healthy cells. Has less severe side effects than external radiation therapy.
Preoperative radiation therapy can kill tumor cells at margins of the tumor site. It can keep the cancer under control and prevent metastases, and also convert technically inoperable tumors into operable ones.
Postoperative radiation therapy can destroy cancer cells still present around the margins after a tumor has been surgically removed.
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