The Benefits of Superficial Radiation Therapy

Finding out that you have skin cancer can be incredibly frightening and overwhelming. You may be anxious thinking about what the treatment entails and whether or not it will drastically change your skin.
The good news is that there are many modern procedures that help treat skin cancer - namely superficial radiation therapy. This is an external radiotherapy that treats cancer on or below the skin. Since the radiation is only taking place superficially, it doesn't travel very far into the body. This helps minimize nasty side effects commonly associated with radiation and keeps your muscles and organs safe.
Superficial radiation therapy can either be done with low-energy photons or electrons. Depending on the type of skin cancer you have and how deep it is, this will then be decided by your doctor.
What Does The Process Entail?
Prior to receiving superficial radiation, you'll typically meet with a team of medical practitioners who will decide how much radiotherapy is required and where on your body it should be done. Measurements and photographs will then be taken on the site receiving superficial radiation therapy to allow for an in-depth view of your skin.
The process itself isn't as scary as one might think. It's very similar to getting a standard x-ray, but the process is much
stronger and aimed at treating skin cancer. The procedure is pain-free and is usually over within minutes. Depending on the area that needs to be treated, you may be given certain moulds to protect other areas of your skin from superficial radiation.
Are There Any Side Effects?
The side effects associated with superficial radiation therapy usually occur at the site itself. Common side effects include skin irritation, change in skin color and hair loss.
What Are The Benefits of Radiation Therapy
Since superficial radiation therapy only targets the surface of the skin, this helps ensure that the radiation doesn't travel too far within your body. Superficial radiation therapy also is a good option for avoiding deep tissue damage and also provides the best benefits when it comes to reducing scarring. This is why it's so widely recommended for skin cancer on the face.
Superficial radiation therapy is a non-intensive and painless procedure that's affordable, quick and straightforward. This helps patients avoid invasive and painful surgeries that could leave them with deep scarring and other skin damage.
This type of radiation therapy minimizes the risks of post-surgical infections and provides patients with a safe and effective treatment alternative they can trust. As the superficial RT doesn't break the skin, this allows for skin cancers to be treated without reaching the body's tissues and muscles.
Get in Touch
If you're looking for a dermatologist in Orange City, FL to treat your skin cancer, get in touch with our expert team today. We provide innovative and passionate skincare for people of all ages and work tirelessly to meet your needs.
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