Radiation therapy is one of the most effective and commonly used ways to treat cancer. Knowing how radiation therapy works can help you feel more at ease, confident, and clear, whether you are a patient who has just been diagnosed or someone who is helping a loved one through treatment.
This guide will tell you about the science, process, benefits, side effects, and access options for radiation therapy in Maharashtra. It is especially for people looking for a “radiation oncologist near me.”
What is Therapy With Radiation?
Radiotherapy, also called radiation therapy, is a way to treat cancer by using high doses of radiation to kill cancer cells or make tumours smaller. Radiation therapy is different from chemotherapy because it only works on the area where the cancer is, while chemotherapy works on the whole body.
There Are Two Main Ways to Give the Radiation:
External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT): is the most common type. A machine sends radiation from outside the body directly to the tumour.
Internal Radiation Therapy (Brachytherapy): This method puts a radioactive substance inside the body close to cancer cells to target them more precisely.
Our advanced radiation oncology department at Onco-Life Cancer Centre has state-of-the-art machines like IMRT (Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy), IGRT (Image-Guided Radiation Therapy), 3DCRT (Three-Dimensional Conformal Radiation Therapy), VMAT, SBRT, SRT, and SRS. These machines make treatments safer and more accurate.
What Is the Process of Radiation Therapy?
Radiation hurts the DNA in cancer cells. Cancer cells can’t fix themselves like normal cells can. Over time, this process destroys them. This is how radiation treatment usually goes:Meeting with a Radiation Oncologist:
The first step is to meet with a radiation oncologist (you can easily find one by searching for “radiation oncologist near me”). They will look over your medical history, scans, and reports to see if radiation therapy is right for you.Simulation and Planning:
CT or MRI scans are used to make a map of the exact location of your tumour. Using special software, a treatment plan is made just for you. Radiation may be given every day for 5–6 weeks (Monday through Friday) or in fewer sessions for some types of cancer, depending on your diagnosis. Each session lasts only 10 to 15 minutes, but some high-end treatments can take up to 20 minutes.Follow-Up After Treatment:
Regular checkups help you keep track of your progress and deal with side effects.Also Read : Different Types Of Radiation Therapy Used In Cancer Treatment
Who Needs Radiation Treatment?
There are many situations in which radiation therapy is used:
Curative Intent: To completely get rid of cancer, usually with surgery or chemotherapy.
Palliative care is meant to ease symptoms like pain or bleeding in the later stages of cancer.
Before surgery (neoadjuvant): To make the tumours smaller so they are easier to get rid of.
After surgery (adjuvant), the goal is to kill any cancer cells that are still there and lower the chance of the cancer coming back.
Most often used for:- Cancer of the breast
- Cancers of the head and neck
- Cancer of the prostate
- Cervical cancer
- Cancer of the lungs
- Tumours in the brain
If you have early signs like unexplained lumps, tiredness, or pain that won’t go away, you should think about getting checked out. If you’re worried about signs of breast cancer, women over 40 should get screened with a mammogram as soon as possible.
What Are the Side Effects of Radiation Therapy?
People search for the answer to the question, “What are the side effects of radiation therapy?” a lot.
Most people can handle radiation therapy, but the side effects can be different depending on where the treatment is done. A few of the most common ones are:
- Fatigue: The most common sign. After treatment, the condition slowly gets better.
- Changes in the skin: sunburn, itching, redness, or peeling.
- Loss of hair: Only in the area being treated (for example, scalp radiation).
- Nausea : Especially from radiation for brain or stomach cancer.
- Mouth sores or dryness: If the head or neck is treated.
- Radiation for chest or throat cancer can make it hard to swallow.
Most of these side effects are only temporary, and your doctor will help you deal with them.
Also Read : Is Radiation Therapy Safe For Cancer: Let’s Get To The Bottom Of It
How to Find the Right Radiation Therapy Centre Close to You?
When you look for “radiation therapy near me,” keep these things in mind:
- Is the hospital certified by NABH?
- Are the radiation oncologists well-trained and experienced at well-known places like Tata Memorial and others?
- What kinds of technology are there, like IMRT, IGRT, Tomotherapy, SRS, SBRT, and so on?
- Are there regular meetings of the multi-disciplinary tumour board?
- Is there help for patients with counselling, nutrition, and follow-ups?
Our radiation team at Onco-Life Cancer Centre regularly goes to National Cancer Grid (NCG) meetings with experts from all over India to work together on cases. Our centre also makes sure that all patients, whether they are private or part of a government program like MJPJAY, get the best care possible.
Help With Money and Easy Access
Cancer treatment can cost a lot of money, but programs like Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jan Arogya Yojana (MJPJAY) and Ayushman Bharat can help. These plans say:
- Most of the time, radiation therapy is free for people who qualify.
- Patients can get care without having to pay up front.
- Most of the time, they will pay for travel and food.
People from Pune and nearby areas often want to know how much a mammogram or radiation therapy costs in Pune. All services at Onco-Life Cancer Centre that are covered by government programs are free. For private patients, prices are much lower than at hospitals in big cities.
Why Should You Go to the Onco-Life Cancer Center for Radiation Therapy?
- Radiation oncologists who are skilled and available 24/7
- A cancer hospital in Western Maharashtra that has been accredited by NABH
- Care that puts the patient first and treats them with respect and compassion
- Cutting-edge technology for personalized treatment plans
- Full support for patients in the government program
- Clear cost structure for private patients
- The stories of thousands of patients who come in scared and leave with hope show how successful we are.
Conclusion: Giving Patients Power Saves Lives
Radiation therapy is a key part of modern cancer treatment. It gives thousands of patients the chance of a cure or symptom relief because it can be given exactly, has fewer side effects, and gives them access to the newest protocols.
If you or someone you care about is diagnosed with cancer, it’s important to know that getting treatment from a skilled radiation oncologist in your area right away can have a big effect on the outcome.
At Onco-Life Cancer Centre, our goal is not only to treat you, but also to be with you every step of the way, with compassion, knowledge, and honesty.
