Radiation Therapy

Radiation is a form of energy released in particles or waves. In high doses, radiation destroys cells or keeps them from multiplying.

Radiation therapy is a cancer treatment. Its goal is to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Unlike cancer cells, most of your normal cells recover from radiation therapy. Doctors try to protect normal cells by limiting the radiation dosage and spreading treatment out over time. When they use radiation machines, they shield as much of your body as possible while targeting the cancer.

The radiation for cancer treatment comes externally, from special machines, or internally, from radioactive substances that a doctor places in your body. Sometimes radiation is used with other treatments, like surgery or chemotherapy.

Nuclear Scans

Nuclear scanning uses radioactive substance to see structures and function inside your body. Nuclear scans involve a special camera that detects energy coming from the radioactive matter, called a tracer. Before the test, you be given the tracer, often by an injection. Although tracers are radioactive, the amount is small. During most nuclear scan tests, you lie still on a scan table while the camera creates images. Most scans take 20 to 45 minutes.

Nuclear scans can help doctors identify many situations, counting cancers, injuries and infection. They can and show how organs like your heart and lungs are functioning.