Radiotherapy in Head and Neck Cancer

Cancer of the head and neck can have a significant impact on a person’s well-being. Luckily, advances in cancer treatment have allowed for the effective management of head and neck cancers with the help of radiotherapy. Radiation therapy or RT is a potentially curative modality for Head and Neck Cancer treatment. For head and neck cancer, RT, preferred for localized disease, delivers better functional outcomes than surgery. RT is usually used by the Best Cancer Doctor in Noida combination with chemotherapy as an organ function-preserving approach or as an adjuvant after surgery.

What is Radiotherapy?

Radiotherapy is a form of cancer treatment that utilizes high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells. The radiation delivered from a machine called a linear accelerator can focus on the specific area of the body affected by cancer. The goal of radiotherapy is to destroy cancer cells while minimizing harm to healthy surrounding tissue. Radiation therapy refers to the use of high-energy x-rays by a Head and Neck Cancer doctor in Noida to kill cancer cells to shrink their growth of cancer cells. RT aims to increase the possibility of a cure with minimum side effects.

Radiation therapy is regarded as a local treatment because it only attacks the cancer cells where it is delivered and therefore kills them. Cells that exist outside the cancer area are not affected by the radiation. Hence, patients with head and neck cancer need to be treated by the Best Oncologist in Delhi NCR like Dr. Manish Singhal from CCI who is part of a multidisciplinary team. RT is delivered in the two most common ways. They are external, through external beam radiation therapy (EBRT), and internally, by brachytherapy. EBRT involves the delivery of radiation via a machine. During brachytherapy, a Cancer Specialist in Delhi NCR places small seeds of radioactive material directly into the cancer.

How Does Radiotherapy Work in Head and Neck Cancer?

In head and neck cancer, radiotherapy is often used by an oncologist in Delhi in combination with other forms of treatment, such as surgery or chemotherapy. This helps to maximize the chances of a successful outcome and reduce the risk of recurrence. The radiation interferes with the ability of the cells to divide and grow, ultimately leading to cell death. The radiation is delivered by a Cancer Doctor in Noida in a series of carefully calculated doses over several weeks.

Types of Head and Neck Cancer Radiation

There are many ways that the Best Oncologist in Delhi NCR use to treat head and neck cancer with radiation. They are:

Proton Therapy

Proton therapy uses high-energy protons to treat cancer. It delivers a higher dose of radiation from a machine called a cyclotron or synchrotron to the tumor while minimizing exposure to surrounding healthy tissue. This makes proton therapy by the Best Cancer Doctor in Noida an attractive option for treating head and neck cancers, as it reduces the risk of side effects such as dry mouth, difficulty swallowing, loss of taste, and long-term complications associated with traditional forms of radiation therapy. The protons penetrate the tissue and deposit their energy in the tumor, destroying the cancer cells.

Proton therapy can treat a variety of head and neck cancers, including tumors of the mouth, tongue, larynx, pharynx, and salivary glands. It is often used by a Head and Neck Cancer doctor in Noida in combination with other treatments, such as surgery and chemotherapy, to achieve the best outcomes. Proton therapy is still relatively new and not widely available, as it requires specialized equipment and a trained Cancer Doctor in Noida. However, proton therapy is likely to become a more widely used treatment option for head and neck cancers.

Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)

IMRT combines the use of a collimator, a metal device, with a highly advanced computer program. These tools allow an oncologist in Delhi to shape the radiation beams of the treatment area.

Image-Guided Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IG-IMRT)

IG-IMRT uses several types of imaging tests like CT, MRI, or PET which are combined with special computer software to map changes in the tumor’s size or location and optimize the radiation delivery to the treatment area. In this approach by a cancer doctor in Delhi, daily imaging scans are performed to ensure an accurate position while delivering the dose of radiation.

Adaptive Radiotherapy

Adaptive radiotherapy is a type of radiation therapy that uses advanced imaging techniques and real-time tumor tracking to adjust the radiation dose delivered to the head and neck cancer. The goal of adaptive radiotherapy by a Head and Neck Cancer doctor in Noida is to increase the accuracy and precision of radiation therapy and to reduce the exposure of healthy tissues to radiation. In traditional radiotherapy, the radiation dose is based on an estimate of the size and location of the tumor. However, this estimate can be inaccurate due to changes in the tumor’s size or shape, or due to the movement of the tumor during treatment. Adaptive radiotherapy overcomes these limitations by using imaging techniques by a Cancer Doctor in Noida, such as CT or MRI scans, to track the tumor in real-time and adjust the radiation dose accordingly.

Adaptive radiotherapy is particularly useful in Head and Neck Cancer treatment, as these cancers often involve complex and highly-irradiated anatomy. Adaptive radiotherapy typically involves the use of immobilization devices and multiple imaging sessions during treatment, which helps the treatment team adjust the radiation dose as needed. This personalized approach by Cancer Specialist in Delhi NCR continually optimizes care while sparing healthy tissue.

Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT)

SBRT by the Best Cancer Doctor in Noida combines IGRT with more advanced techniques. It can deliver exceptionally high doses of radiation to a tumor while minimizing the radiation dose to nearby healthy tissue. It usually concerns fewer treatments than other forms of radiation therapy. SBRT by a Cancer Doctor in Delhi NCR can provide better outcomes with fewer side effects than traditional radiation therapy.

Brachytherapy

Brachytherapy involves the placement of radioactive material directly into or near the tumor. This highly targeted form of radiation therapy by a cancer doctor in Delhi delivers a high dose of radiation directly to cancer while minimizing exposure to surrounding healthy tissue. In brachytherapy for head and neck cancer, small radioactive sources emit radiation that destroys the cancer cells, while the surrounding healthy tissue receives a much lower dose of radiation.

There are two main types of brachytherapy for head and neck cancer: low-dose-rate (LDR) brachytherapy and high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy. LDR brachytherapy involves the permanent placement of radioactive sources into the tumor, while HDR brachytherapy involves the temporary placement of a high-dose radioactive source, which is typically removed after a short period. Brachytherapy is a highly specialized form of radiation therapy performed by a Cancer Specialist in Delhi NCR.

Chemoradiation

Chemoradiation combines chemotherapy and radiation therapy to increase the effectiveness of radiation therapy by making the cancer cells more sensitive to radiation and increasing the overall response rate of cancer to treatment. In chemoradiation for head and neck cancer by a Cancer Doctor in Delhi NCR, chemotherapy drugs are given in conjunction with radiation therapy which makes the cancer cells more sensitive to radiation, allowing the radiation to be more effective in destroying cancer. Common chemotherapy drugs used in this setting by an oncologist in Delhi include cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil, and carboplatin.

What are the Side Effects of Radiotherapy for Head and Neck Cancer?

As with any cancer treatment, radiotherapy by a cancer doctor in Delhi can cause side effects. However, the extent and severity of these side effects vary from person to person and depend on the location of cancer, the dose of radiation received, and the individual’s overall health. Common side effects of radiotherapy in head and neck cancer include:

Fatigue: This is a common side effect of radiotherapy, and can be caused by the body’s efforts to repair itself after radiation exposure.
Skin irritation: The skin in the area being treated may become red, dry, and itchy.
Mucositis: This is the irritation and inflammation of the mucous membranes in the mouth, throat, and nose. Mucositis can cause pain, difficulty swallowing, and changes in taste.
Dry mouth: Radiation can reduce the production of saliva, leading to a dry mouth.
Loss of appetite: The inflammation and discomfort caused by radiotherapy can make eating difficult, leading to weight loss.

In addition to these side effects, radiotherapy by a Cancer Doctor in Delhi NCR can also increase the risk of developing other health problems, such as heart disease, stroke, and lung cancer, in some cases. However, these risks are generally small, and the benefits of radiotherapy in treating head and neck cancer far outweigh the potential drawbacks.

Conclusion

In conclusion, radiotherapy is a highly effective form of treatment for head and neck cancer. It works by delivering high-energy radiation to the affected area, damaging the DNA of cancer cells and causing them to die. While radiotherapy can cause side effects, such as fatigue, skin irritation, mucositis, dry mouth, and loss of appetite, these can be managed with the right support and care. Discuss the potential benefits and risks of radiotherapy with the Best Oncologist in Delhi NCR, as well as your treatment plan. With the right management, radiotherapy can help to achieve the best possible outcome in Head and Neck Cancer treatment, while minimizing harm to healthy tissue. You can seek the guidance of Dr. Manish Singhal from CCI and explore all of your treatment options.