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X-ray therapy or radiation therapy is effectively used to cure cancer. In this treatment, cancerous cells are killed with beam of high-energy particles or radiations like X-rays. X-rays damage the... |
X-ray therapy or radiation therapy is effectively used to cure cancer. In this treatment, cancerous cells are killed with beam of high-energy particles or radiations like X-rays. X-rays damage the cancer cells by destroying their genetic material that controls growth and division of cell, which indeed stop them from growing and dividing.
X rays are basically are electromagnetic radiation or photons. X-ray radiation used in cancer treatment are usually produced by linear accelerator or high-energy X-ray unit. These high energy electrons are bombarded on target metal like tantalum or tungsten. When these photons reach to target metals, some part of their kinetic energy is converted into electromagnetic radiation. This resulting radiation is called as bremsstrahlung radiation. X-rays can be obtained from cascading of electrons in atoms from higher energy level to lower energy level. This radiation produced is characteristic of X-rays. Action of these X-rays removes electron from atoms and breaks the bond; so X-rays are used to break bonds in cells that leads to treatment of cancer.
In any cell, DNA is required for cell reproduction and cell viability. When these DNA is broken cell dies. This DNA is broken with help of X-rays, along with DNA some other cell compounds that are equally important for survival and reproduction of cells. Killing of these cancerous cells leads to destruction of cancer. X-ray therapy attacks cancer cells that are actively or fast dividing. It does not work as well on cells that are in resting phase or cells those are dividing slowly.
X-rays not only kills cancerous cell but also other healthy and normal cells through which it passes. So there are many side effects of such X-ray treatment are seen. All these side effects depend upon the part of body of that is being treated and dose. Some common side effects of X-ray therapy are hair loss to the area being treated, skin reactions like rash or redness in treated area, fatigue, nausea and loss of appetite. So each time radiation or X-ray therapy is given it involves balance between destroying sparing normal cells and cancerous cells.