Pallative Radiotherapy
March 10th, 2008 by Peter
Another cure that it is said to be effective is Palliative radiotherapy. It involves using lower doses of radiation – often in just one or two doses. Radiotherapy may be given before surgery to shrink a tumor or after surgery to stop the growth of cancer cells that may remain. It can also be given before, during, or after chemotherapy (anti-cancer drugs) to improve treatment results. Palliative treatment aims to shrink tumors and reduce pain or relieve other cancer symptoms. While a cure is not likely, palliative radiotherapy may also prolong life. The majority of patients should be treated with short courses of palliative radiotherapy, of 1 or 2 fractions. Care should be taken with the dose to the spinal cord.