Radiation therapy or radiotherapy is a medical procedure that applies high energy radiation and kills the cancerous cells in the bladder. Rays are targeted at the affected region inside the bladder.
Radiation therapy or radiotherapy is a medical procedure that applies high energy radiation and kills the cancerous cells in the bladder. Rays are targeted at the affected region inside the bladder.
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What happens during the procedure?
The treatment lasts for a few minutes. Radiation from the external sources is directed towards the measured body part, much like an X-ray procedure but stronger than that.
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After the procedure
After the first session of the therapy, your doctor will acquaint you with the post-surgery care and the next session of the therapy.
The surgery efficiently treats early stage symptoms of bladder cancer, but as any other radiation therapy, it also has some disadvantages, which a patient must be aware of.
The advantages of Radiation therapy for bladder cancer are:
- The procedure is painless and is minimally invasive.
- Treats the symptoms of advanced cancer.
- Prevent early stage cancer.
The risks associated with Radiation therapy for bladder cancer are:
- Redness, blistering, or peeling of the skin which is exposed to radiation.
- Pain in the pelvic area, and risk of infection.
- Chances of diarrhoea, cramps in the abdomen, upset bowel movement, or burning sensation during urination.
- Other bladder symptoms such as the urge to urinate, or blood in urine.
- Feeling of nausea and tiredness.
It can have long-term effects such as incontinence and damage to the inner lining of the bladder.
