Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy works to eliminate cancer cells, while at the same time it may affect some healthy cells in the area exposed to the radiation only. It involves using therapeutic rays to eradicate cancer cells, targeting specific areas of the body to eliminate the tumor completely or to shrink its size. That’s why we sometimes … Continued

Radiation Oncologist: This is the doctor in charge of radiation therapy. This doctor meets with the parents of the sick child during the first visit, and then sees the child throughout the treatment period to monitor and care for them if any side effects occur, in addition to working alongside the rest of the treatment … Continued

Radiation Therapy During Treatment  The Steps the Patient and Their Family Go Through During Radiation Therapy  Meeting with the Radiation Therapy Specialist:  This is the first step for the family when their child’s treatment plan includes radiation therapy. They discuss the role of radiation in the treatment, ask questions, and get answers. The family also … Continued

 Here are some tips on how to care for your child’s skin:  • Clean the skin with lukewarm water and a type of soap recommended by nursing staff.  • Avoid using any lotion, perfume, deodorant, or powder on the treated areas unless approved by a doctor.  • Do not use products that contain alcohol or … Continued

Radiation to the brain may cause: • Inflammation and pain in the ear.  • Hair loss  Hair grows back 2-4 months after treatment ends, although there may be changes in color or texture, which is often for the better.  • Mild headache.  • Dizziness and vomiting.  Radiation stimulates the vomiting centers in the brain, and … Continued

Radiation to the head and neck can cause: changes in taste, difficulty and pain when swallowing, dry mouth, dry throat, hair loss, mouth sores, fatigue, skin changes. Why the repetition?  Radiation to the head and neck can cause:  • Changes in taste.  • Difficulty and pain when swallowing.  • Dry mouth.  • Dry throat.  • … Continued

Radiation to the chest: chest pain. Cough. Difficulty and pain swallowing. Shortness of breath: the child gets winded quickly. Fatigue. Skin changes.  Why the repetition? Radiation to the chest:  • Chest pain.  • Cough.  • Difficulty and pain swallowing.  • Shortness of breath: the child gets winded quickly.  • Fatigue.  • Skin changes

Radiation to the abdomen: feeling uncomfortable and experiencing abdominal cramps, difficulty eating, dizziness, and vomiting, fatigue, skin changes. Radiation irritates the stomach lining, and the child can receive special medication before the session to prevent this symptom. Why are we repeating the same thing? Radiation to the abdomen:  Feeling of discomfort and abdominal cramps   Difficulty … Continued

Radiation to the pelvis:   There may be: cramps, diarrhea, painful and frequent urination, fatigue, skin changes.  Radiation to the limbs: fatigue, skin changes. Why the repetition?  There may be:  • cramps  • diarrhea  • painful and frequent urination  • fatigue  • skin changes  Radiation in the limbs:  • fatigue  • skin changes

-the area that was treated.  -radiation doses used.   -the age of the child during the treatment period.  Some of the late symptoms that appear in the patient:  -glaucoma or cataracts in the eye.    -the tumor returning after a period, which can occur in other parts of the body.   Some late symptoms in the case of … Continued