Back

These definitions are provided to help patients and family members understand terms used in relation to radiation therapy. If a term is not defined, please ask the doctor or a staff member for an explanation.

Amifostine

Amifostine is a drug given when radiation therapy is delivered to the head and neck. Radiation therapy to these areas can cause xerostomia (chronic and severe dry mouth). Patients having xerostomia are at an increased risk of infections of the mouth, cavities and tooth loss, and often have difficulty chewing, swallowing and speaking. Amifostine has been shown to reduce these unwanted side effects. Amifostine is given by an injection into the patient's vein. The most common side effect of amifostine is low blood pressure which usually lasts about six minutes. The patient's blood pressure will be checked before, during and after injection.

Anemia

Too few red blood cells resulting in not enough oxygen to tissues and organs.

Anesthetic

Medication that helps to reduce or prevent pain.

Antiemetic

Medicine that prevents or stops nausea and vomiting.

Asthenia

Lack or loss of strength and energy, weakness.

Benign

Something that does not metastasize (spread) and can be cured by treatment or removal.

Biopsy

Removal of an organ or tissue to determine if there is disease or cancer present.

Bolus

Material used to simulate body tissue. When placed over the area receiving radiation therapy treatment it will reduce the penetration depth of the radiation beam, bringing it closer to the surface of the patient's skin.

Brachytherapy

Radiation therapy that involves the placement of a radioactive source into the tumor using catheters, seeds or capsules; placing special applicators inside a body cavity; placing special applicators into a passageway; placing sealed source in or against a tumor; injecting radioactive substance into the bloodstream or body cavity.

Cancer

Used to describe many types of diseases involving an abnormal cell growth or division. Lumps, masses, and tumors are the result of this abnormal cell growth.

Chemotherapy

Treatment of disease using chemicals that selectively destroy cancerous tissue.

Dermatitis

Inflammation of the skin.

Dietitian

Person with special training in nutrition.

Dosimetrist

Person trained to calculate radiation therapy doses.

Electron Beam

Form of radiation therapy using electrons. Does not penetrate as deep into the body as gamma rays (most common form of radiation therapy).

Electrons

Negatively charged particles used for brachytherapy or external beam radiation therapy.

Emesis

Vomiting.

Fluid Retention

Swelling caused.

Fractionation

Dividing the prescribed radiation dose into the number of treatments necessary to reach the prescription.

Gamma Rays

Form of radiation used in external beam radiation therapy and brachytherapy.

High Dose Rate Brachytherapy (HDR)

Brachytherapy in which the radioactive source emits a high dose of radiation to the area and is removed after the prescribed dose of radiation is received by the patient.

Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT)

Radiation therapy machine which allows the patient to be imaged during the actual time of radiation therapy treatment.

Immobilization Device

Device used to help insure the patient is treated in the same position and location each radiation treatment. Examples would be mask (used to keep the head in the same position) and vac-fix (bag that is molded around the patient or body part).

Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)

Form of radiation therapy that allows radiation beams of various strengths and shape to be delivered from several angles.

Interstitial Radiation Therapy

High dose rate brachytherapy done by placing an implant or source into the tumor.

Intracavitary Radiation Therapy

High dose rate brachytherapy using special applicators placed inside a body cavity.

Intraluminal Radiation Therapy

High dose rate brachytherapy using special applicators placed into a passageway.

Intraoperative Radiation Therapy

Form of radiation therapy given during an operation.

Iodine (Radioactive)

Radioactive isotope used in prostate brachytherapy.

Iridium

Radioactive isotope used in High Dose Rate (HDR) brachytherapy.

Linear Accelerator

Radiation therapy machine that produces electron or gamma radiation.

Mammosite®

Catheter (tube) inserted into the tumor bed (area where tumor was removed) of the breast allowing high dose of radiation to be given to the area needing it most.

Medical Oncologist

Doctor specially trained to treat cancer with chemotherapy.

Metastasis

Spread of cancer to another site in the body.

Nurse

Person specially trained to care for the patient.

Oncologist

Doctor specially trained to treat cancer.

Palliation

Using therapy for pain relief.

Physicist

Person specially trained to ensure the patient receives the prescribed amount of radiation.

Port Film

X-ray film taken to verify patient position and treatment field.

Portal

Treatment field.

Prostate Brachytherapy

Internal radiation to the prostate gland commonly referred to as "prostate seeds".

Quality of Life

Emotional, social and physical wellbeing and the ability to function in day to day living.

Radiation Oncologist

Doctor specially trained to treat cancer with radiation.

Radiation Therapist

Person specially trained to give radiation therapy.

Radiation Therapy (Radiotherapy)

Use of high doses of radiation to stop or slow the spread of cancer or to help control pain due to cancer.

Radioprotector

Substance used to protect cells from radiation.

Radiosensitizer

Substance used to increase the effect of radiation on cells.

Reconstructive Surgery

Plastic surgery that restores the shape of an area.

Samarium

Radioactive liquid used to provide relief from the severe and debilitating pain of bone metastases (spread of cancer to the bones).

Simulation

Process of locating area to be treated and marking the patient's body to allow the radiation therapist to recreate the patient's position for radiation therapy.

Simulator

X-ray machine set up to simulate the radiation treatment machine.

Social Worker

Person specially trained to help individuals, families, and communities with their personal and social problems.

Surface Brachytherapy

High dose rate brachytherapy using a sealed source of radiation placed in or against the tumor.

Target Volume

Area of the body meant to receive radiation therapy.

Three Dimensional Conformal Radiation Therapy (3DCRT)

Uses computer simulation of tumor and surrounding areas to allow radiation beam to be shaped exactly to the tumor and spare normal surrounding tissues.

Treatment Field

Area receiving radiation therapy.

Ultrasound

Using sound waves to create an image of the body.

Ultrasound Guided Prostate Radiation Therapy

Use of ultrasound waves to pinpoint the location of the prostate gland daily within the body.

Unsealed Internal High Dose Rate (HDR) Brachytherapy

Injecting radioactive substance into the bloodstream or body cavity.

Vac-Fix

Bag that can be molded around a patient or body part to help ensure the treatment position is the same each time radiation therapy is given.

Xerostomia

Chronic and severe dry mouth.