The word “cancer” can bring a wave of fear, but thankfully, advancements in medical science offer effective ways to fight this disease. Among the most powerful tools in a cancer specialist’s arsenal is radiation therapy, often called radiotherapy. If you or a loved one in Ghana or Kenya are facing a cancer diagnosis, understanding radiation therapy can empower you to navigate your treatment journey with greater confidence. It’s a bit like a highly precise, invisible shield, meticulously targeting and neutralizing unwelcome invaders within your body.
At CareCross, we understand that seeking medical treatment, especially for complex conditions like cancer, can be a daunting prospect, particularly when considering options outside your home country. We are dedicated to providing end-to-end solutions for international patients, ensuring access to quality care and advanced treatments like radiation therapy in India, U.A.E., & Thailand. We are networked with different types of hospitals across various cities in India, with NABH/JCI Accreditations, to provide customized services based on your needs.
What is Radiation Therapy and How Does it Work?
Imagine cancer cells as unruly weeds in a garden, growing uncontrollably and spreading. Radiation therapy uses high-energy beams or particles, such as X-rays, gamma rays, or protons, to damage the DNA within these cancer cells. When their DNA is sufficiently damaged, the cancer cells lose their ability to grow and divide, eventually dying off. Healthy cells in the surrounding area can also be affected by radiation, but unlike cancer cells, they have a remarkable ability to repair themselves and recover. This is why radiation therapy is typically given in small daily doses over a period, allowing healthy cells to heal between treatments.
Radiation therapy can be a primary treatment to cure cancer, or it can be used in combination with other treatments like surgery or chemotherapy. For instance, it might be used to shrink a tumor before surgery, to destroy any remaining cancer cells after surgery, or to alleviate symptoms caused by advanced cancer, such as pain.
Types of Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy broadly falls into two main categories:
External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT):
This is the most common type. A machine located outside the body directs high-energy beams at the tumor. You lie on a table while the machine moves around you, delivering precise doses from different angles. This method is non-invasive, and you won’t feel anything during the treatment itself. It’s like a highly focused flashlight beaming light onto a specific spot. Within EBRT, there are several advanced techniques that offer even greater precision, minimizing damage to healthy tissues:
- Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT): This technique allows for the intensity of the radiation beam to be varied across the treatment area, shaping the dose to match the exact contours of the tumor while sparing surrounding healthy tissues.
- Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT): Using imaging techniques like CT scans or X-rays before or during each treatment, IGRT ensures that the radiation is delivered precisely to the tumor, even if it shifts slightly due to breathing or organ movement.
- Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) and Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT): These are highly precise forms of radiation therapy that deliver a very high dose of radiation to a small, well-defined tumor in a single session (SRS) or a few sessions (SBRT). They are often used for tumors in the brain, lung, or liver.
- Proton Therapy: Unlike X-rays, protons deposit most of their energy at a specific depth, which can be advantageous in treating tumors located near critical organs, reducing the radiation dose to healthy tissues beyond the tumor.
Internal Radiation Therapy (Brachytherapy):
This involves placing a radioactive source directly inside or very close to the tumor. This allows for a very high dose of radiation to be delivered to the cancer cells while minimizing exposure to surrounding healthy tissues. Brachytherapy can be temporary, where the radioactive source is inserted for a set period and then removed, or permanent, where small, rice-sized radioactive “seeds” are implanted and remain in the body, slowly losing their radioactivity over time. It’s akin to placing a tiny, powerful light source directly within the “weed” to destroy it from the inside out.
The choice of radiation therapy type depends on several factors, including the type and stage of cancer, its location, your overall health, and whether other treatments are being used.
What to Expect During Radiation Therapy
The journey through radiation therapy typically involves several stages:
Consultation and Planning (Simulation):
Your radiation oncologist will discuss your diagnosis, treatment goals, and the specific radiation plan. You’ll undergo a “simulation” appointment, which is a crucial step in preparing for treatment. During this session, you’ll lie on a special table, and your medical team will use imaging scans (like CT, MRI, or PET) to map out the exact location of your tumor and the surrounding healthy organs. They may create custom immobilization devices (like molds or masks) to ensure you are in the exact same position for every treatment, maximizing accuracy. Tiny, permanent skin marks, often called “tattoos,” may be made to help align the treatment machine accurately. These are usually very small, like a freckle.
Treatment Sessions:
Once your plan is finalized, you’ll begin your treatment sessions. For external beam radiation, these are usually daily, Monday to Friday, for several weeks. Each session is relatively quick, lasting only a few minutes, although the entire appointment, including preparation, might take 15-30 minutes. You’ll lie still on the treatment table, and the machine will deliver the radiation. You won’t feel anything during the treatment, but you might hear some buzzing or clicking sounds from the machine. You’ll be alone in the treatment room, but the therapists will be observing you closely from a separate control room and can communicate with you through an intercom.
Monitoring and Side Effects:
Throughout your treatment, your medical team will closely monitor you for any side effects. Radiation therapy can cause side effects because it affects healthy cells as well as cancer cells. The type and severity of side effects depend on the area being treated, the dose of radiation, and your individual health. Common side effects include fatigue, skin changes (redness, dryness, itching, or even blistering in the treated area), hair loss in the treated area, and localized discomfort. For example, if you’re receiving radiation to the chest, you might experience a cough or difficulty swallowing. If it’s to the pelvis, you might experience diarrhea or bladder irritation. Your care team will provide guidance on managing these side effects, which often resolve within a few weeks or months after treatment ends.
Follow-up Care:
After completing your radiation therapy, you’ll have regular follow-up appointments with your radiation oncologist to monitor your recovery, assess the effectiveness of the treatment, and address any lingering side effects.
Radiation Therapy in the Context of Ghana and Kenya
While significant strides have been made in cancer care across Africa, access to advanced radiation therapy facilities can sometimes be a challenge in countries like Ghana and Kenya. Many patients may face long waiting lists, limited availability of the latest technologies, or higher out-of-pocket costs within their local healthcare systems. For example, a 2020 analysis showed that only a small percentage of countries in Africa had a radiotherapy capacity that matched the estimated treatment need. In Kenya, the cost of radiation therapy can range from approximately $2,500 to $10,000 USD, depending on the type and duration of treatment, which can be a significant financial burden for many families.
This is where medical tourism, through a trusted partner like CareCross, becomes a viable and often preferable option for many patients. India, in particular, offers world-class medical facilities, state-of-the-art radiation therapy technologies, and highly skilled oncologists, often at a fraction of the cost compared to Western countries. For instance, the cost of radiation therapy in India can start from as low as $770 USD and go up to $7,000 USD for more advanced treatments, providing a significant cost advantage without compromising on quality. Many hospitals in India are also accredited by international bodies like JCI (Joint Commission International), ensuring adherence to the highest standards of patient care and safety.
CareCross facilitates this journey, providing comprehensive support from initial consultation and visa assistance to travel arrangements, accommodation, and coordination of your medical appointments. Our aim is to alleviate the logistical and administrative burdens, allowing you to focus solely on your treatment and recovery.
Conclusion
Radiation therapy is a cornerstone of modern cancer treatment, offering hope and healing to countless individuals worldwide. By understanding how it works and what to expect, patients from Ghana and Kenya can make informed decisions about their care. While local challenges may exist, the option of seeking advanced radiation therapy through medical tourism in India, UAE, and Thailand provides an accessible and high-quality alternative. CareCross is committed to bridging this gap, ensuring that every patient has the opportunity to access the best possible treatment for their cancer journey.