Radiation Oncology

Are patients undergoing external beam radiation treatment radioactive? Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," Can children be around family members that are taking radiation therapy for breast cancer? Lawrence J. Solin, MD, FACR, Professor of Radiation Oncology at the University of Pennsylvania, responds:Patients...
Blue Flash After Radiation to the Head Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," I've been diagnosed with GBM and have started radiation therapy (along with chemo - temodar). When I receive my dose of radiation (every day), I see a blue flash at the end of the cycle. My question is this: Is...
Breast Feeding During Radiation Therapy Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," Is it safe to breastfeed your child if you are receiving radiation for 6 weeks for a brain tumor? Neha Vapiwala , MD, Senior Editor of OncoLink and Chief Resident in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the...
Can Graves Ophthalmopathy be treated with radiation? I have Graves' disease with bulging eyes. I have been taking steroids with some success initially but my eye problem appears to be worse. I am also suffering from the side effects of steroids. I heard that this type of eye problem could be...
Cervical Stenosis Caused By Radiation Therapy Dear OncoLink "Ask the Experts," I am a radiation therapist in Canada. My department has recently been tackling the issues of cervical stenosis caused by radiation therapy (external and internal) and the use of dilators to help this problem....
Extra-cranial Stereotactic Radiosurgery Dear OncoLink "Ask the Experts," Is stereotactic radiosurgery used for inoperable tumors in non-brain areas? If so, where can I find further information about it, and where is such work taking place? Thanks for your consideration, ...
Fibrosis of the Median Nerve after Radiation Treatments Dear OncoLink "Ask the Experts," Eleven years ago, I had radiation to the neck area. I now have numbness in my right hand and wrist due to scare tissue pinching the median nerve in the neck. Is there any solution to this problem? ...
Focal hair loss after partial brain irradiation Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," My 15 yr. old daughter has a choriod plexus carcinoma. She received chemotherapy & radiation to the ventricles two months ago. Her hair is coming in every where except where the radiation was directed. I'm wondering...
Gamma Knife Radiosurgery Dear OncoLink "Ask the Experts," My mother has brain cancer. She is retired and is 50 years old. In March of 1998 she had CT and MRI scans, which revealed a tumor in her brain stem. Then she had routine treatment, but it did not show a...
Hair Growth after Radiation to the Head Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," I have undergone thirty radiation treatments to part of my brain and completed radiation about two months ago. I lost a significant amount of hair after the first couple of weeks of treatment, and was bald basically...
Hyperthermia Treatments for Liver Metastasis from Breast Cancer Dear OncoLink "Ask the Experts," I am trying to find information for a friend with breast cancer, which has spread to her liver. She had a bone marrow transplant that kept the disease at bay for six months. She now has a 3cm tumor in her...
Long-Term Complications of Whole Brain Irradiation Dear OncoLink "Ask the Experts," OncoLink has been a very helpful and informative resource to our family since my son was diagnosed with brain cancer. My question has to do with the long-term effects of whole-brain radiation. Thank...
Long-term Side Effects of Radiation for the Treatment of Hodgkin's Lymphoma Dear OncoLink "Ask the Experts," I am looking for data or research that explains long term side effects for survivors of radiation therapy for the treatment of Hodgkin's Lymphoma IIA. I received this treatment in 1986 and have since...
Molecular Imaging What is molecular imaging? Thanks. Li Liu, MD, OncoLink editorial assistant, responds: Dear M: Thank you for your interest and question. Important developments in molecular sciences in the past decade have...
Nasopharyngeal Radium Irradiation Could you please provide me with any information about a now discredited form of medical "treatment" called nasopharyngeal radium irradiation? J Li Liu, MD, OncoLink editorial assistant, responds: Dear J, ...
Neck stiffness and lack of saliva after radiation treatments for throat cancer Dear OncoLink "Ask the Experts," My dad had throat cancer about three years ago. He went through intensive chemotherapy and radiation treatments. His therapy has left him with no "real" saliva therefore making it almost impossible for him...
Post Radiation Pleural Effusions Dear OncoLink "Ask the Experts," My husband is a 30-year survivor of Stage IIIb Hodgkin's disease. He received radiation only. He has been having recurring pleural effusion in his chest cavity since 97. All tests are negative for cancer,...
Post-Radiation Lower Motor Neuron Disease Dear OncoLink "Ask the Experts," Please, I am trying to find any information I can related to post radiation lower motor neuron disease. I had radiation for a clear cell carcinoma metastasis found in my lower spine. I have lost a lot of...
Radiating an Erythropoietic Mesenteric Mass Dear OncoLink "Ask the Experts," My wife has had polycythemia vera which was diagnosed in 1964. She was treated initially with frequent phlebotomies during the first decade of her illness. She developed splenomegaly and ...
Radiation Damage to the Heart After Treatment Dear OncoLink "Ask the Experts," I have heard that radiation of the left breast following lumpectomy for DCIS may damage one's heart. Is this true? If so, what are the odds of heart damage for a patient choosing radiation for DCIS? ...
Radiation Dosages Dear OncoLink "Ask the Experts," I would like information on the specific dosage and the type and energy of the radiation used in treating Hodgkin's Disease. I would be most grateful for any information you can send about this. ...
Radiation Induced Hematuria Dear OncoLink: I need information on chronic radiation induced hematuria and any treatments used to correct this? Kenneth Blank, MD and John Han-Chih Chang, MD, Editorial Assistants for Oncolink, respond: ...
Radiation Recall Phenomenon Dear OncoLink "Ask the Experts," My dad has lung cancer that has spread to the brain. He had radiation treatment to the brain about 5 months ago and has been getting chemotherapy. The brain tumor was not very big and it was on the surface of...
Radiation Tattoo Removal Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," I have just completed radiation therapy, following successful neo-adjuvant chemo and a lumpectomy (1.5 cm). Can I have my radiation tattoos removed with a laser, or do I need to keep them?Maggie Hampshire, BSN, OCN,...
Radiation therapy for breast cancer Dear OncoLink "Ask the Experts," My friend has lobular breast cancer and had six weeks of radiation treatment. She is wanting a source for understanding what to expect from her body as a reaction to radiation. Thanks for your...
Radiation-Induced Facial Hair Loss I recently received radiation therapy to my face and neck for treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the oral tongue. I received a dose of 6000 cGy. One side effect that I have is that I have lost all growth of facial hair in the treatment...
Recurrent Cancer and Radiation Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," I've read that radiation therapy is seldom given to the same area twice. In this case, any recurrent cancer would have to be treated with chemotherapy, which seldom does more than provide temporary help. Is recurrent...
The Prostate Seed Implant Dear OncoLink "Ask the Experts," I have prostate cancer. PSA = 13.5. I'd like to know the pros and cons of seeding. Can you help? Thanks. J. Li Liu, MD, OncoLink editorial assistant, responds: Dear J: Thank...