High-precision treatment of almost all nosologies on linear accelerators with minimal side effects
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Along with medical and surgical methods, radiation therapy (other name - "radiotherapy") is one of the most popular methods of treating cancer. The essence of the method lies in the use of ionizing radiation emitted by a medical accelerator for the treatment of predominantly malignant tumors.
The method is based on the fact that the pathological focus consists mainly of rapidly dividing cells with a disturbed DNA structure. Ionizing radiation affects the DNA of such cells, stopping the process of their division. Subsequently, the tumor cells die, and the neoplasm itself is gradually destroyed.
Options for the use of radiation therapy:
Radiation therapy is divided into several types depending on the type of tumor that needs to be treated. It differs both in the type of ionizing radiation generated by the medical device and in the way it is delivered to the target, namely:
Regardless of the method of radiation supply, the main goal is to destroy the malignancy. The specialists of our medical center use, along with remote therapy, chemoradiotherapy - a combined approach that combines drug treatment with radiation therapy.
We have the most advanced equipment, allowing us to apply the most successful methods of external beam radiation therapy (jointly and separately):
The clinic "K+31 West" accepts patients under compulsory medical insurance for radiation, chemoradiotherapy and drug therapy.
The clinic "K+31 West" provides treatment according to compulsory medical insurance in the following areas: radiation therapy, chemoradiotherapy for all nosologies without restrictions in the form 057/y.
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The decision to conduct radiation therapy or use another method of treatment is made by the attending physician, since each case of cancer is individual. Our center treats various types of benign and malignant tumors:
Although this list is not exhaustive, we do not guarantee radiotherapy in any of the above cases.
The first thing the patient must do is to provide a list of documents, including the following:
A radiotherapist (radiation therapist) carefully examines all the documents provided by the patient, selects the best option for radiation therapy, advises the patient on the treatment plan, reporting side effects, possible risks and the prognosis of the result. If a treatment technique using a linear accelerator is chosen, the patient must undergo a marking procedure - CT simulation. This is necessary for a detailed study of radiation exposure, the creation of an individual treatment plan, taking into account all the features of the disease. During the procedure, which takes place on a CT scanner, marks will be applied to the patient's skin with a special paint for subsequent radiation calibration during treatment, which will need to be kept for the entire period of therapy. In some cases, special devices are made to recreate the required body position in order to avoid displacement of the radiation exposure area.
Radiation therapy is a course of treatment that includes several sessions ("fractions") conducted at regular intervals. When choosing the duration of the course, various factors are taken into account: the characteristics of the disease, the method of irradiation used, the required dose of radiation, and others. The course can last from 1 day to 1.5 months and include from 1 to 40 sessions. Patients are prohibited from interrupting the course on their own initiative, as this is fraught with the appearance of a stable tumor. In most cases, radiation therapy involves outpatient treatment (no hospitalization), which is well tolerated by patients.
Our clinic has all the amenities for patients with limited mobility: ramps, ergonomic waiting rooms, spacious elevators and toilets for people with disabilities.
Irradiation of the tumor with ionizing radiation is carried out on a specialized installation - a linear accelerator equipped with a built-in multileaf collimator. It allows you to irradiate complex-shaped targets with high accuracy, while not touching healthy nearby tissues and thereby minimizing side effects. For superficially located tumors, a close-focus radiotherapy apparatus is used. On average, one treatment session takes about 10 minutes. The treatment procedure is painless and is accompanied by a slight noise of the equipment, the radiation is invisible to the eyes and is not felt by the patient.
We use advanced equipment manufactured by Varian Medical Systems, in particular Halcyon 2.0 and TrueBeam ST linear accelerators. We also have Xstrahl 200 close-focus X-ray therapy device at our disposal. All these devices and complexes are characterized by high efficiency and safety.
The choice of accelerator is made on an individual basis for each patient, depending on the type, size and location of the formation. Our equipment allows you to effectively treat both small and large tumors without affecting healthy tissues and organs.
Our clinic also has advanced imaging technologies, including the latest MRI and PET/CT units, allowing us to accurately target the tumor as the time between imaging the tumor and starting treatment is greatly reduced. If new symptoms or changes occur during treatment at our clinic, a follow-up MRI or CT can be done quickly, allowing us to adjust our treatment plans in a timely manner.
Despite the highest accuracy of modern installations, healthy tissues are also affected during a session. Ionizing radiation has a devastating effect on the tumor, the decay products of which enter the bloodstream. Although the treatment methods and technologies we use minimize side effects, they do not completely eliminate them. In most cases, moderate side effects are observed, which are only temporary and do not interfere with a full course of therapy. The patient undertakes to promptly inform his attending physician about any negative manifestations.
The main side effects: nausea and vomiting, headaches, diarrhea and intestinal irritation, loss of appetite, general weakness and fatigue, brittle nails and hair loss, changes in blood counts and fever.
Local symptoms depend on the irradiated area:
Carefully adhering to the recommendations of the attending physician, the patient will be able to minimize side effects both during the treatment session and after it:
At the end of a course of radiation therapy, it is very important to periodically check the results of your treatment by undergoing prescribed follow-up examinations and diagnostic tests.
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