Which Diseases Does Radiation Oncology Treat?

Çerkezköy Optimed Hospital Radiation Oncology Specialist Dr. Erkan GÖCEN provides information about the subjects.

Radiation Oncology is a medical science that investigates the effects of treatment procedures using ionizing radiation on cancer cells. Radiation Oncology clinics apply radiotherapy to the cancerous area using high-energy radiation with special devices. In these clinics, the specialist doctor and physicist evaluate and plan. A radiotherapy technician is the person who applies the treatment to the patient.

How does radiotherapy affect the body?

If the ionizing radiation entering the living tissue directly affects DNA, this is called the direct effect of radiation.  If other molecules in the environment are affected and these molecules affect DNA, this is called the indirect effect of radiation. In radiotherapy used for therapeutic purposes, the target structure is the DNA molecule inside the cell. The high-energy X-rays or electrons given for this purpose cause fractures in the DNA chain, preventing the proliferation of the cancerous cell and leading to its death. While healthy cells affected by radiation in the treatment area can heal themselves, the damage to the cancerous cell is greater, so recovery is less. Thus, the cancerous mass disappears with the effect of radiotherapy.

How does radiotherapy affect the body?

If the ionizing radiation entering the living tissue directly affects DNA, this is called the direct effect of radiation. If other molecules in the environment are affected and these molecules affect DNA, this is called the indirect effect of radiation. In radiotherapy used for therapeutic purposes, the target structure is the DNA molecule inside the cell. The high-energy X-rays or electrons given for this purpose cause fractures in the DNA chain, preventing the proliferation of the cancerous cell and leading to its death. While healthy cells affected by radiation in the treatment area can heal themselves, the damage to the cancerous cell is greater, so recovery is less. Thus, the cancerous mass disappears with the effect of radiotherapy.

What are the benefits and goals of radiotherapy?

Radiotherapy devices are specially designed to produce very high-energy X-rays or electrons. In this way, radiotherapy can be applied in a controlled manner. Radiotherapy aims to destroy the tumour by killing cancerous cells in the area where it is applied. Radiotherapy aims to prevent the spread of cancer by destroying the tumour and the lymph nodes to which it can spread with radiation. Our primary goal when applying this treatment is to deliver the highest possible dose to the tumourous mass while protecting healthy tissues and organs.  Thanks to new treatment devices and planning programmes, the effectiveness of radiotherapy has increased and side effects have decreased considerably.