An advanced form of radiation therapy called localized body radiotherapy is offering a higher chance of success. Dr. Lee Kuo Ann at Parkway Cancer Center explains how it works and its advantages over conventional radiation therapy.Radiation therapy, also known as radiation therapy, is an age-old cancer treatment by targeting tumors with high-energy X-rays. Now, an advanced way to do this treatment is to make waves - literally - and give patients a better chance of recovery. Called body-positioned radiation therapy (SBRT), it delivers powerful but precise doses of radiation to cancerous tumors while minimizing damage to nearby healthy tissues and cells. When done on the brain, it is called radiosurgery (SRS). The main difference between conventional radiotherapy and SBRT is the manner in which the radiation is given. The conventional type involves small doses of radiation, carefully delivered over several sessions that can last several weeks. By providing only a fraction of the total dose of radiation needed at a time, Conventional radiation therapy gives normal cells time to heal on their own. SBRT delivers a much larger dose of radiation - five times more - in less times. The radiation, however, is delivered very precisely. Highly sophisticated computerized images (using CT, MRI, or other imaging techniques) are used to determine the exact location, shape, and size of the tumor, allowing doctors to decide determines the intensity of the radiation rays and the different angles they can be delivered to target cancer cells precisely. While conventional radiation therapy is done over the course of several weeks, SBRT can be completed in five or less in just a week or two. Because it shapes and targets radiation beams very precisely, SBRT reduces the damage that radiation therapy usually causes to surrounding tissues and cells. This results in fewer side effects, although some general side effects - such as fatigue, weakness, skin pain and hair loss - can still be experienced. And because SBRT takes less of the total time, it's less likely to affect other cancer treatments, like chemotherapy. Therefore, SBRT gives better results than conventional radiotherapy. While the two-year success rate for the latter is typically between 30 and 40 percent, the success rate for SBRT can be doubled or more, from 80 to 90 percent. SBRT is often used to treat cancers that involve small, well-defined tumors in parts of the body where surgery may be risky - eg, lungs, liver, lymph nodes blood, spine, neck or other soft tissues. SBRT may also be a primary treatment option for some patients who cannot tolerate surgery.
Conventional radiotherapy
Targeting tumors with high-energy X-rays.
Involves small doses of radiation, delivered over several sessions lasting several weeks.
Two-year success rate: 30-40%
Body Positioning Radiation Therapy (SBRT)
Direct powerful but precise radiation doses to tumors.
Larger doses of radiation in five sessions or less, taking only 1-2 weeks.
Usually used for small, well-defined tumors.
Generally causes less damage to surrounding tissues.
