radiation therapy

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radiation therapy

A patient receives radiation therapy in a hospital treatment room.

Definition

Noun: 1. A medical treatment for disease, especially cancer, using controlled exposure to high-energy radiation: This therapy uses targeted beams of radiation (such as X-rays or gamma rays) to destroy or damage cancer cells, preventing them from growing and dividing. It is a common and effective form of cancer treatment.

Usage
  • Radiation therapy is typically administered by a machine outside the body (external beam radiation) or from a radioactive source placed inside the body near the cancer cells (brachytherapy).
  • It is often used alone or in combination with other treatments like surgery or chemotherapy.
  • The term is used in both general and clinical medical contexts.
Examples
  • After her surgery, the oncologist recommended a course of radiation therapy to target any remaining cancer cells.
  • Modern radiation therapy is very precise, minimizing damage to the surrounding healthy tissue.
  • The side effects of radiation therapy can include fatigue and skin irritation in the treated area.
Advanced Usage
  • Adjuvant radiation therapy: Radiation given after the primary treatment (like surgery) to kill any microscopic remaining cancer cells.
  • Palliative radiation therapy: Radiation used not to cure cancer, but to relieve symptoms, such as pain from a tumor.
  • "To undergo radiation therapy": A common phrase describing the patient's experience.
    • He will undergo six weeks of radiation therapy.
Variants and Related Words
  • Radiotherapy: A direct synonym, more commonly used in British English but understood globally in medical contexts.
  • Irradiation: A broader term that can refer to the process of exposing something to radiation, which includes but is not limited to medical treatment (e.g., food irradiation).
  • Radiation oncologist: The specialized doctor who plans and oversees radiation therapy treatments.
Synonyms
  • Radiotherapy
  • X-ray therapy (a specific, older type)
  • Radiation treatment
Related Phrases
  • Course of radiation: Refers to the full schedule of radiation therapy sessions prescribed for a patient.
    • She completed her course of radiation last month.
  • Radiation field: The specific area of the body targeted during treatment.
radiation therapy

A patient receives radiation therapy in a hospital treatment room.

Noun
  1. (medicine) the treatment of disease (especially cancer) by exposure to a radioactive substance

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