Skin Cancer Radiation Therapy
Sometimes skin cancer is resilient, and will either keep returning, or resist treatment. When this occurs, an alternative is to use x-ray radiation to eliminate the cancer calls. This treatment requires multiple visits over a period of time. The X-ray treatment is repeated until the cancer is completely destroyed.
Radiation is not a preferred treatment for skin cancer. In some cases, however, no other treatment will be effective. There are many cases in which the patient’s condition and other factors will require radiation treatment to be used against skin cancers. There are several reasons why a patient afflicted with skin cancer may seek radiation treatment. One possibility is that the patient has inherent medical or health risks that would prevent them from other types of treatment.
The area where the skin cancer is either too large or in an area that is not conducive to treatment with surgery are other reasons that radiation treatment might be sought. It is always possible that a skin cancer has been treated but is reoccurring frequently.
Skin cancer isn’t a sure or easy thing. This type of treatment in particular does show some success – a 50% to 25% drop in recurrence of the disease.
Radiation treatment of skin cancer carries significant risks. The radiation may lead to new cancers in the area surrounding your current cancer. Such cancers will be much more difficult to treat because of the radiation exposure. Healthy skin in that area may also be seriously damaged.
There are also side effects to consider when you are thinking about skin cancer radiation treatment. You will experience fatigue, nausea, hair loss and redness in the area. Generally the side effects will disappear when the treatment is stopped.
Your doctor should have already discussed this kind of treatment for your skin cancer if you are seriously considering it. You will need to be very careful in reviewing your situation, to ensure that this treatment suits your needs. Radiation may not be the best option for treating you skin cancer, and your doctor should consider all other treatment options before proceeding with radiation treatment.
