Electron therapy is a form of radiation therapy that utilizes electron beams to treat specific types of cancers. It offers some advantages over traditional X-ray therapy (photon therapy) due to the physical properties of electrons.
Key Aspects of Electron Therapy:
While electron therapy can minimize damage to healthy tissues, patients may still experience some side effects, such as skin irritation or redness in the treated area. These side effects are usually temporary and can be managed by the medical team.
If you have been diagnosed with cancer and electron therapy is considered as a treatment option, it is important to consult with a radiation oncologist who can determine the most suitable radiation therapy approach based on your specific case.
Electrons are lightweight, charged particles that have less penetrating power compared to X-rays. As a result, they deposit their energy in a more superficial manner, making them suitable for treating cancers located close to the surface of the body.
Electron beams are often used to treat skin cancers and other superficial tumors. Because they don't penetrate deeply into tissues, they are effective in delivering radiation precisely to the target area without affecting underlying healthy tissues as much.
Electron therapy is commonly employed to treat skin cancers, such as basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, as well as certain types of breast cancers, particularly those located in the chest wall or near the skin's surface.
One advantage of electron therapy is its ability to spare deeper tissues from unnecessary radiation exposure. This can help reduce side effects and complications associated with treatment.
In some cases, electron therapy may be used in combination with X-ray therapy (photon therapy) to target tumors with a combination of shallow and deep radiation doses. This approach allows for more effective and precise treatment.
Like other forms of radiation therapy, electron therapy requires careful treatment planning. The radiation oncology team, including the radiation oncologist, medical physicist, and dosimetrist, works together to create a treatment plan tailored to the patient's specific condition.
Patients undergoing electron therapy need to be positioned accurately to ensure the electron beams are directed precisely at the tumor. Immobilization devices and imaging techniques are used to achieve this.
At St. Mary's Regional Cancer Center, electron therapy is a valuable tool in radiation oncology, especially for treating superficial cancers or delivering targeted radiation doses to specific areas near the body's surface while sparing deeper tissues. It is an example of how radiation therapy can be customized to meet the unique needs of each patient.