Learning About Radiation Therapy Skin Cancer Treatment

When it comes to treatment of skin cancer there are a few different options that are available. One of the most effective is radiation therapy skin cancer treatment. This radiation therapy involves the medical use of ionizing radiation as part of cancer treatment in order to control the malignant cells and stop them from spreading.

Although radiation therapy skin cancer treatment is usually very effective for treating skin cancers, there are also common skin problems that occur as a result of this therapy, including itchiness, redness, dryness, general irritation, and tanned skin. There are ways to control this type of skin irritation. However, making sure to use warm water and a mild soap whenever you are cleansing, and trying not to use any scented perfumes or lotions on the irritated areas of the skin until they are healed are good habits to adopt.

Radiation therapy skin cancer treatment can either be used on its own, as the only form of treatment, or it may be used in combination with other methods of treatment, including chemotherapy. This is a treatment that uses specific medications or chemicals to destroy cancer cells. Then there are also those cases in which surgery is necessary in order to fight the skin cancer.

What is Involved

The radiation therapy skin cancer treatment is typically quite simple, and patients usually do not even need to stay overnight in the hospital, as they will instead most likely visit the hospital a few different times in a week and get small doses of the radiation at a time.

There are both external and internal radiation therapies that can be performed, and if you are being treated using the external form, you will typically be dressed in a hospital gown or robe for each appointment and you will be settled onto a position on a table and then a large machine known as a stimulator will deliver the exact amount of radiation therapy that is necessary to kill the cancer cells in the area.

Risks and Complications

There are a few risks and complications, besides skin irritation, that can occur as a result of the radiation therapy skin cancer treatment. Hair loss is one of the most commonly experienced complications of the therapy, and sore mouth and tooth decay is quite common as well. If you received radiation therapy to the head and neck your mouth may be sore and you are also more prone to get cavities.