Radiation therapy may also harm the surrounding healthy tissues, which could interfere with the growth and development of the child and lead to certain side effects.
However, with advanced technologies and more precise radiation therapy approaches that specifically target the cancer cells and cause little or no damage to the surrounding healthy tissues, radiation therapy for children can now provide better results and fewer complications.
Types:
The different types of radiation therapies in children may include the following:
1. External beam radiation therapy: Most children will receive external beam radiation therapy for cancer treatment. It involves providing radiation beams to the cancer sites through a machine, known as a linear accelerator machine, that moves around the child’s body. The different types of external beam radiation therapies may include:
2. Image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT): The doctor will use various imaging tests, like CT scans, to guide the radiation beams to hit the cancer cells precisely, based on the size of the child and the shape and size of the tumor.
3. Stereotactic radiation therapy: A single, high radiation dose is delivered to the tumor of the child.
4. Proton beam radiation therapy: Special machines, called cyclotrons and synchrotrons, are used to provide proton beam energy to destroy the cancer cells and cause minimal or no damage to the surrounding healthy tissues.
Intraoperative radiation therapy: Radiation is provided to the child during surgery. This procedure is particularly useful if the surgeon cannot remove the entire tumor.
5. Internal beam radiation therapy or brachytherapy: A small implant is placed inside the child’s body, which then acts as a radiation source, and delivers radiation to the cancerous cells. Certain kinds of childhood cancers, like head and neck cancers, may be treated using internal beam radiation therapy.
6. Systemic radiation therapy: Children may sometimes be given radioactive drugs via the mouth or injected into the vein (intravenously). These drugs are designed in a manner that they can find and attach themselves to the cancerous cells and then deliver radiation.
Radiation therapy may be given to children for the treatment of several types of childhood cancers, which may include the following:
The child may need to do the following diagnostic tests before radiation therapy:
Depending on the type of radiation therapy being performed, the treatment can be carried out in the following ways:
1. External beam radiation therapy:
The child is made to lie down on the treatment table according to the position determined by the simulation procedure.
The doctor then goes into an adjacent room to monitor the treatment.
A linear accelerator machine will then direct the high-energy radiation beams into the child’s body.
The linear accelerator machine will move around the patient to provide radiation from several angles as the child lies on the treatment table.
This linear accelerator will create a buzzing sound, but the child cannot feel anything during the procedure.
The child usually goes home on the same day after treatment.
Each treatment session lasts for about ten to thirty minutes.
2. Internal radiation therapy or brachytherapy:
This procedure is done by implanting a radiation source inside the body of the child.
The procedure is usually done under sedation and the implanted source is placed via a thin tube known as a catheter or a larger device known as an applicator.
3. Systemic radiation therapy:
The radiation source can be given in the form of capsules or through an intravenous (injected into the vein) line to the child.
The side effects of radiation therapy in children vary depending on the area being treated and may include the following:
1. Head and neck:
2. Chest:
3. Pelvic region or rectum:
The late side effects of radiation therapy in children based on the area being treated include:
Head, neck, brain, and spine:
Cognitive defects
Growth and developmental problems
Dental problems
Hearing problems
Visual problems
Spinal problems
Obesity
Chest:
Heart problems
Breast cancer
Lung problems
Stomach:
Digestive system problems
Liver problems
Colorectal cancer
Pelvis:
Colorectal cancer