Cancer Radiation Therapy Oncology

Unfortunately, cancer remains as one of the most devastating conditions that affect millions of people around the world. There is no doubt, however, that the many medical breakthroughs over the past century have given their life back to many cancer patients. For example, cancer radiation therapy for oncology patients has saved the life of millions and new ways of treatment are being investigated by oncologists and researchers alike. There are quite a few cancer radiation therapy treatments and some are more effective for certain conditions, than others. In order to decide which treatment you need, your doctor will evaluate a series of factors.

Discovery of X-Rays for Oncology Purposes

Radiation was first discovered by a German physicist that went by the name of Wilhelm Röntgen. In the late 1890s, he was performing experiments with various vacuum tubes that contained cathode rays; he continued to make experiments until he successfully took the first x-ray ever of his wife’s hand during that same year. Other researchers and scientists followed Röntgen, such as American radiologist Emil Grubbe, who was the first researcher to use x-rays for medical purposes. According to the Chicago Radiological Society, Grubbein 1896 opened the first radiation therapy facility in the U.S. where he treated the first cases of cancer. He continued to publish his reports and discoveries, and before he died he had already released more than 90 papers that described cancer radiation therapy for oncology a lore more in depth.

Counterattacking Cancer With Radiation

Certainly cancer radiation therapy has come an extremely long way since its very first discovery. It took researchers a lot of dedication, effort and even their lives to bring medicine this far. Both Röntgen and Grubbe eventually died due to the radiation they were continuously exposed to, but it’s thanks to their hardwork and intelligence that the world today has cancer radiation therapy. Röntgen was the first to discover that radiation could be used to take an image of the human bones or skeleton (historians have stated that his wife was in awe when she saw the x-ray of her hand and stated ‘I’ve seen my death!’), while Grubbediscovered that this radiation could have an effect on the numerous oncology related diseases. The first patient he ever treated was a woman of Chicago that was suffering from breast cancer.

Side Effects of Cancer Radiation

You may already be aware that there are side effects to being exposed to high levels of radiation. Moreover, the truth is that any type of medical treatment or medication can cause side effects in the human body. Nonetheless, with the advancement of technology, medical researchers have been able to find ways to minimize side effects related to cancer radiation therapy oncology. Your oncologist will discuss with you the different treatment options that are available (depending on the type of cancer and its phase) and the side effects related to them. There are a few common side effects, such as:

• Fatigue
• Infertility
• Loss of appetite
• Skin problems
• General discomfort