Pancreatic cancer radiation therapy
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Pancreatic cancer Microchapters |
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Diagnosis |
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Treatment |
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Case Studies |
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Pancreatic cancer radiation therapy On the Web |
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American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Pancreatic cancer radiation therapy |
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Risk calculators and risk factors for Pancreatic cancer radiation therapy |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor-In-Chief: Cafer Zorkun, M.D., Ph.D. [2]
Overview
Pancreatic cancer is a malignant tumour within the pancreatic gland. Each year about 33,000 individuals in the United States are diagnosed with this condition, and more than 60,000 in Europe
Radiation therapy
(Also called radiotherapy) uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells. A large machine directs radiation at the abdomen. Radiation therapy may be given alone, or with surgery, chemotherapy, or both.
Radiation therapy is local therapy. It affects cancer cells only in the treated area. For radiation therapy, patients go to the hospital or clinic, often 5 days a week for several weeks.
Doctors may use radiation to destroy cancer cells that remain in the area after surgery. They also use radiation to relieve pain and other problems caused by the cancer.