When you hear of radiation, what’s the first thing that pops into your mind? A health hazard? Perhaps, you have read tons of articles telling how dangerous it is for humans to be exposed to high amounts of radiation. If it is unsafe, why does radiation therapy exist in Singapore?

Cancer is one of the fatal diseases today. According to the World Health Organization, nearly ten million people died from cancer worldwide in 2020 alone.

But cancer research keeps on rolling. Throughout the years, experts have discovered several ways to battle cancer. To name a few, we now have chemotherapy, hormone therapy, bone marrow transplant, and immunotherapy. Amongst them is radiation therapy in Singapore. Learn more about radiation therapy here.

Radiation TherapyAs Cancer Treatment In Singapore

Using radiation in the medical field is not uncommon. You might have undergone one for sure. Did you know that radio technologists and radiographers used a healthy amount of radiation when you needed an x-ray?

Many cancer treatments use radiation as well. Among these treatments are volumetric modulated arc therapy andbrachytherapy.

But to understand how a Mount Elizabeth radiation doctor uses radiation to treat cancer, we must first understand the basics of radiation.

What is radiation?

Radiation is energy with an electric field and magnetic field and travels as waves. Radiation can penetrate surfaces and travel through space.

The electromagnetic spectrum is the entire range of radiation. The electromagnetic spectrum consists of (arranged from the lowest energy to highest energy): radio, microwave, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, x-ray, and gamma-ray.

Radiation comes from natural resources, from sunlight to the food we eat. There are also radioactive materials found in the environment, such as radium and uranium.

Radiation and Medicine

Radiation has been used in the field of medicine. Medical imaging processes, such as X-rays, mammography, and CAT scans, use radiation to produce an image.

Radiation is also used in nuclear medicine.

And finally, cancer treatments also use a safe amount of radiation to fight the disease.

How does radiation fight cancer?

Before we learn howradiation therapy in Singapore fights cancer, we must understand cancer.

Cancer usually starts from the uncontrollable growth of abnormal cells in the body. Damaged cells are supposed to die, but these abnormal or cancer cells do otherwise. They multiply until they form a tumour and spread to other parts of the body.

Radiation, typically the x-ray and gamma-ray spectrums, kills these cancer cells by destroying their DNA inside them and slowing down their reproduction.

It takes weeks to break down the DNA of cancer cells completely.

It also helps in shrinking tumours. Your radiation doctor in Singaporemay combine radiation therapy with other cancer treatments, including chemotherapy and surgery.

Types of Radiation Therapy

There are three primary types of radiation therapy in Singapore:

●    External beam radiation therapy

This method uses a machine from the outside of your body that emits high-energy rays. A radiation oncologist in Singapore will direct the equipment to target the tumour or the cancer-affected area of your body.

●    Internal radiation therapy

Internal radiation therapy or brachytherapy uses radioactive implants to be put inside your body, typically near the tumour or the cancer-affected area. This radioactive implant will no longer emit radiation after some time.

●    Systemic radiation therapy

Systemic radiation therapy uses radioactive oral drugs and medication to treat cancer.

What are the cancers treated by radiation?

Brachytherapy, radionuclide therapy, andradiation therapy in Singaporecan treat several types of cancers. It includes head and neck cancers, thyroid, breast, prostate, cervix, and eye.

However, radiation treatment is on a case to case basis. Your radiation oncologist in Singapore may or may not recommend radiation therapy, depending on the type and stage of your cancer.

What are the risks of radiotherapy in Singapore?

Unfortunately, radiation also kills healthy cells in the body, aside from cancer cells. Hence, at high-level exposure, radiation therapy may have several side effects as well.

●    Short-term side effects

Short-term effects ofradiotherapy in Singaporeinclude lethargy and fatigue, vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, skin irritation, swelling, blisters, and sometimes plummeting number of white blood cells or platelets.

●    Long-term side effects

Long-term effects ofradiotherapy in Singaporeinclude restricted movements, dilated capillary blood vessels, skin darkening, delayed wound healing, diarrhea, and bleeding.

Radiation dose limits

Since exposure to high amounts of radiation has negative effects on the body, each body part has a lifetime radiation dose limit.

For example, if you have maxed out the radiation dosage for the chest, usually for lung and breast cancer treatment, you cannot receive another radiotherapy in the same area.

However, your other body parts can still receive one, such as near the prostate or cervix.

Who administers radiation therapy in Singapore?

Since radiation is a sensitive type of treatment, only highly trained and experienced professionals administer it.

A radiation oncologist in Singaporesupervisesthe radiation treatment for cancer.

A radiation physicist takes care of the radiation equipment, guaranteeing it is working and has the correct dosage.

 A radiation therapy technologist operates the machine.

A radiation therapy nurse helps you manage the side effects of the radiotherapy treatment.

How to mitigate the side-effects of radiation therapy in Singapore?

●    Eat healthily.

A balanced diet helps counter the effects of radiation therapy, such as nausea and malnutrition. It also strengthens your immune system.

●    Clean your skin gently.

Most of the time, external beam radiation therapy will leave a mark on your skin. There may also be some redness and irritation in the affected area. Clean the area using warm water and gentle soap. Never use lotion or creams. Follow your radiation therapy nurse’s instructions.

●    Rest and sleep.

Lethargy and fatigue are side-effects of radiation therapy in Singapore. Make sure to have enough rest and sleep before and after your session.

Final Words

Going through radiotherapy can be difficult, especially with the radiotherapy cost in Singapore. But remember, with the technological advancement recently, radiotherapy is one of the best cancer treatments you can get today, so never hesitate to ask your doctor.

Are you looking for a Mount Elizabeth radiation doctor? Visit Dr Johann Tang – Radiation Oncologist Singapore for more information about radiotherapy.