Palliative radiation therapy refers to the use of radiation methods not to cure the body of cancer but to lessen the cancer's growth and pain-inducing effects. This may be used on patients whose cancer has reached a stage where the disease is terminal and the patient is to be made comfortable.
Use
Palliative radiation is considered only when the treatment benefits will outweigh any negative side effects. Therefore, a physician, next of kin and potentially the patient himself should weigh the options. Some instances that may indicate the potential for palliative care include cancer that has reached the bones or brain, a cancerous tumor that is pressing on the spinal cord and inhibiting movement, a cancerous tumor that keeps a person from eating, breathing, or engaging in a bowel movement or cancer that causes bleeding in the stomach, throat, bladder or other organs.
Types
A radiation oncologist may evaluate a patient with these types of cancers to determine areas where a patient can receive radiation therapy in order to ease pain, slow internal bleeding and prevent pressure on the spinal cord. Radiation may be delivered in various treatments, as much as 5 days a week for 1 to 3 weeks. The amount may be determined based on what treatments will provide the best results.
Potential Side Effects
While the radiation treatments themselves are not painful, patients may experience side effects such as increased tiredness, nausea or diarrhea. However, these treatments are recommended with an emphasis on minimizing harmful side effects. Keeping a physician informed of any side effects related to radiation may allow the physician to prescribe any medications to help with these effects.
Patients who receive palliative radiation treatments are able to survive weeks longer than those who do not and often with significantly less pain.
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