What does radiation do for cancer patients?

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We found out today that my grandmother has cancer and my mother said that the oncologist is planning on using radiation to ease her pain. My question is, what does radiation do? I know, eases pain, but how?
She has lung cancer which has spread to her bones (her back, more specifically).
"Radiation, which is also used to treat cancer, can be very helpful in alleviating cancer pain in some circumstances. It can be used to reduce the size of some tumors which, in turn, takes pressure off organs and nerves that the tumor touches. It can also be used to treat the pain of cancer that has spread to the bones, the brain, blood vessels, nerves and spine.

Treatment with radiation is done by specialists called radiation oncologists, who will determine the dosage of radiation needed and oversee the treatment itself. In some instances, radiation is performed by implantation, when radioactive material is placed inside the body for a period of time, during which it kills cancer cells. "  (+ info)

How much is a radiation therapist can make in the Bay area?

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I want to become a radiation therapist but I'm still wondering radiation theapist still a good one also? Which one do you guys prefer? Radiology technician or Radiation therapist. Please help! Thank you so much!
I meant the different between radiology tech and radiation therapist. Which one is better? Thx
The market is becoming flooded with people in school for Radiation Technician. Try shadowing someone for a day and make sure either one is a career you truly want. Try the website below for interests, skills and abilities needed on both, and for an estimate of yearly wages in your state. Click on CareerInfoNet and you will find the information.  (+ info)

What is the difference between radiography and radiation therapy?

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I am a college student looking to go into radiation therapy in Ohio. I see all of these programs titled radiography or radiation tech, but it doesn't sound like radiation therapy. Any help? Also, if you know of any schools for radiation therapy in Ohio?
Thank you!
Radiography is making of an imaging using ionizing radiation (x Ray) R therapy uses ionizing radiation to change tissue as a primary goal. Like to distroy a tumor. A rad tech takes x ray filmss, C-T scans and with special training may include MRI exams. Although MR does not use ionizing radiation.  (+ info)

How long after radiation exposure do victims start experiencing symptoms of radiation poisoning and die?

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I'm starting to write a horror movie...And I would like to know exactly how long after being exposed to radiation do victims start seeing symptoms, and how long until they actually die.
How much radiation would it take to kill somebody within a few hours?
It depends on the dose recived. While it does depend on the radiation type, if you measure the dose in REM (or the Sievert it's SI Unit), the you already factored in the radiation type.

I only use Wikipedia when I can verify the information, but this is useful and saves you the trouble of digging around in a health physics, nuclear engineering, or radiation biology text.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiation_poisoning#Table_of_exposure_levels_and_symptoms  (+ info)

Does the radiation from your mobile phone stay on your hands after using it?

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I am very scared about the possibility that the radiation from phones causes cancer. Does the radiation stay on your hands after taking a call or texting? Also, does the radiation stay in the room?
No, the radiation from your phone is the same as visible light, just at a different wavelength. So for the same reason light doesn't stay in your room which you turn off the switch, radiation won't stay on your hands or in the room.

There is some debate as to whether phone radiation causes cancer, however the only time this would occur is when the phone is on and next to your head, and when the radiation could be damaging your cells. However, there is no evidence that the type of radiation released by your phone can damage skin cells, and no strong evidence supporting a link between phone usage and brain cancer.  (+ info)

How many times can a person take radiation treatments on their bones?

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My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer 10 years ago.
After all the chemo and radiation treatments she only liked two months making it 5 years cancer free , when it showed up in her bones. She has now taken radiation treatments 6 different times. Localizing on the spots where it is showing up. She has
numerous spots, but the worse ones are the ones they radiate.
I was just curious as to how much a person could take of radiation. Or what is the longest known battle of bone cancer?
It actually depends on the person as all cancers effect all patients differently. Good luck to your mom.  (+ info)

How is radiation dermatitis proven after a skin biopsy is taken?

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What tests show that the rash and skin condition is from ionizing radiation?
Email me with extra questions...
marialisa - radiation dermatitis, also known as radiodermatitis, is a cutaneous (skin) inflammatory reaction to exposure to biologically effective levels of ionizing radiation. It is not associated with diagnostic procedures but is seen in many patients who undergoe radiation therapy.
Early Radiation Dermatitis
In weeks following irradiation, you may note variable redness or edema in more severe cases, followed by loss of hairs, and increased skin pigmentation. If severe, you could see small vesicles (like little blisters), erosion and ulceration. The pathologist who examines a skin biopsies notes additional changes with the microscope.  (+ info)

What is radiation treatment to a cancer patient after giving up the fight?

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My mom has suffered with several types of cancer over the past 3 years and now it's severely deteriorating all of her bones. She broke a bone in her back 2 days ago just by picking up her coffee pot. Her oncologist says there's nothing more that can be done. Keeping her out of pain and comfortable is now top priority. He's having her get radiation treatments daily for the next 2 weeks. He says it's for pain relief. Is that true?
Yes, radiation treatment is used for pain relief. Are you receiving hospice services? They can help your family through this experience, and they would have explained the purpose of radiation at this stage. Good wishes  (+ info)

How much radiation is there in cat scans?

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I've been referred to get one for my sinus headaches and I'm anxious to do so because of the radiation. Any suggestions?
"The effective radiation dose from this procedure is about 0.6 mSv, which is about the same as the average person receives from background radiation in two months."

http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=sinusct&bhcp=1

" How much radiation was I exposed to for the CT sinus exam? The effective dose is around 100-200 mrem. The risk for lifetime fatal cancer due to radiation exposure is estimated to be 4 in one million per 1,000 mrem. This can be compared with the general lifetime fatal cancer estimate of 1 in 4 or 5 of dying of cancer; this translates to 200,000 per million."

http://hps.org/publicinformation/ate/q1084.html

The benefit of a CT scan of the sinuses greatly outweighs the risk. The benefits include a correct diagnosis, which will help your doctor treat you.

I have never used a contrast (dye) for a routine scan of the sinuses, by the way.  (+ info)

How can you get rid of radiation from a cat scan?

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Today I got my first cat scan and no one told me how much radiation this puts out. Should I be worried? Please help. Plus is there such a way to detox the radiation out of my body?
There is not way to detox your body of radiation. The harmful effects come from the impact it has on your cells at a molecular level but the radiation does not stay in your body so to speak. Having a CT is like having 400 quite a few x-rays depending on what kind of scan you had. I would not say freak out by any means but it is definitely something to be aware of in the future when your doctor wants you to undergo a CT scan.  (+ info)

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