Application, eficasy and side effects of radiotherapy in treatment malignant diseases

Radioterapija je jedan od terapijskih postupaka u liječenju zloćudnih bolesti. Ova metoda podrazumijeva primjenu ionizirajućeg zračenja, odnosno upotrebu čestica ili fotona velike energije koji, ionizijarući molekule i atome, oštećuju genetski materijal žive stanice (molekulu DNK-a). Time se onemogućava daljnji rast stanica i njihovo razmnožavanje, što rezultira odumiranjem stanica. Zračenje negativno utječe i na okolne zdrave stanice, ali se one relativno brzo oporavljaju od negativnih utjecaja zračenja. Nuspojave koje se javljaju kao posljedica zračenja mogu izazvati bol i nelagodu. Izraženost nuspojava ovisi o dozi zračenja i lokaciji tumora koji se zrači, ali i o općem stanju te imunološkom statusu pacijenta, pa tako neki pacijenti gotovo da uopće neće imati nuspojave, a drugi će imati velike tegobe.Radiation therapy is one of the methods of treatment of malignant diseases. This method involves the application of ionizing radiation, and the use of particles and high-energy rays that, turning the atoms into ions, damage the genetic material of living cells (DNA molecule). This prevents further growth of the cells and their proliferation resulting from cell. Radiation negatively affects the surrounding healthy cells, but they are relatively quickly recover from the adverse effects of radiation. Side effects that occur as a result of radiation can cause pain and discomfort. Expression of side effects depends on the dose of radiation and the location of the tumor is irradiated, but also on the immune status of the patient, so some patients seem almost will not have side effects and others will have big problems