Radiotherapy plays a crucial role in modern cancer treatment, leveraging high-energy radiation to destroy cancer cells and shrink tumours.

Despite its life-saving potential, numerous myths and misconceptions surround this therapy, often causing unnecessary fear or reluctance among patients.

This blog by Karetrip aims to debunk common myths about radiotherapy, offering clarity and reassurance for those undergoing or considering treatment.

What is Radiotherapy ?

Radiotherapy, or radiation therapy, is a medical treatment that uses high-energy radiation to destroy cancer cells or shrink tumours. It works by damaging the DNA of cancer cells, preventing them from growing and dividing.

Radiotherapy can be used as a standalone treatment or in combination with surgery, chemotherapy, or immunotherapy, depending on the type and stage of cancer.

There are two main types: external beam radiotherapy, where radiation is directed at the tumour from outside the body, and internal radiotherapy, where radioactive materials are placed inside or near the tumour.

Benefits of Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy is highly effective in treating many types of cancers, including breast, prostate, and head-and-neck cancers. It can be curative, aiming to eliminate the cancer, or palliative, helping to reduce symptoms like pain or bleeding in advanced stages.

Modern advancements in radiotherapy, such as image-guided and intensity-modulated techniques, allow precise targeting of tumours while sparing healthy tissues. This reduces side effects and improves the patient’s quality of life during and after treatment.

Common Concerns

Although radiotherapy is often misunderstood, it is a safe and well-regulated treatment. Side effects like skin irritation, fatigue, or localised discomfort are usually temporary and manageable.

Many patients worry about long-term risks, but these are rare and outweighed by the benefits of treating cancer effectively. Patients undergoing radiotherapy do not become radioactive and can safely interact with others, including children and pregnant women.

Understanding the process and benefits of radiotherapy through discussions with healthcare providers can help dispel fears and myths.

Myths about Radiotherapy

Myth 1: Radiotherapy Is Painful

Fact: Radiotherapy is a painless procedure.

Patients often fear that the process of radiotherapy will cause discomfort, but the truth is that it is entirely painless. The treatment involves the delivery of radiation beams, similar to an X-ray, and patients feel no sensation during the procedure.

Myth 2: Radiotherapy Only Targets Cancer Cells

Fact: While radiotherapy is designed to focus on cancer cells, it may affect some nearby healthy tissues.

Modern techniques like intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) have greatly improved the precision of radiation, minimising harm to healthy cells. These cells usually recover faster than cancerous ones.

Myth 3: Radiotherapy Causes Cancer

Fact: The risk of developing a secondary cancer from radiotherapy is extremely low.

Radiotherapy is carefully administered to maximise benefits and minimise risks. The risk of secondary cancers is negligible compared to the life-saving benefits it offers.

Myth 4: Radiotherapy Is Only for Advanced Cancers

Fact: Radiotherapy is used at all stages of cancer treatment and even for non-cancerous conditions.

Whether it’s used to shrink a tumour before surgery, eliminate remaining cancer cells afterward, or provide relief from symptoms in advanced cases, radiotherapy has diverse applications. It’s also effective in treating benign tumours and certain medical conditions like keloids.

Myth 5: Radiotherapy Makes You Radioactive

Fact: External radiotherapy does not make patients radioactive. After undergoing external beam radiotherapy, patients can safely interact with others, including children and pregnant women. In specific cases like brachytherapy, temporary precautions may be necessary.

Myth 6: Radiotherapy Has Severe Side Effects

Fact: Side effects vary by individual and are usually manageable.

Common side effects like fatigue or skin irritation are localized and temporary. Advances in radiotherapy have made it possible to minimize the intensity and duration of these side effects.

Myth 7: Radiotherapy Is Always Expensive

Fact: Costs depend on the technology and financial support available.

While advanced techniques can be expensive, many hospitals provide financial assistance. Public health schemes and insurance also help make radiotherapy accessible to a broader population.

Myth 8: Radiotherapy Is Incompatible with Old Age

Fact: Age is not a barrier for radiotherapy.

Treatment decisions are based on overall health and cancer type, not the patient’s age. Many older adults benefit greatly from radiotherapy as part of their cancer care plan.

Myth 9: Radiotherapy Weakens the Immune System Permanently

Fact: Radiotherapy can temporarily affect the immune system, but it does not cause permanent suppression. The impact is usually localised to the area being treated, as radiotherapy primarily targets cancer cells without affecting the entire body.

For instance, radiotherapy to the chest might impact white blood cell production if the bone marrow is involved, but this effect is generally short-lived. The immune system typically recovered within weeks to months after completing treatment.

During therapy, doctors closely monitor the patient's health to manage any temporary immune suppression. Most patients can resume normal activities and gradually rebuild their immune strength post-treatment through proper nutrition, rest, and exercise.

Myth 10: Hair Loss Is Inevitable with Radiotherapy

Fact: Hair loss due to radiotherapy occurs only in the specific area being treated if the radiation includes hair follicles, such as in scalp or head-and-neck treatments. Unlike chemotherapy, which can lead to widespread hair loss due to its systemic nature, radiotherapy’s effects are confined to the localised treatment area.

For example, a patient receiving radiotherapy to the abdomen or chest will not experience hair loss on their head. Additionally, hair loss in the treated area is often temporary, with regrowth typically occurring within a few months after treatment concludes. Advances in radiotherapy techniques further reduce the likelihood of extensive hair loss, providing reassurance to patients concerned about this side effect.