Radiation Oncology: Treating Cancer
Defining Cancer
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Normal bone
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Normally the cells that make up the
body grow, divide, and replace themselves in an orderly manner.
This process keeps the body in repair. Sometimes, however, cells
lose their ability to limit and direct their growth, and they
divide rapidly without any order. These cells grow into masses of
tissue known as tumors |
Benign tumor (osteoma) |
Tumors can be either benign or malignant. Benign tumors are not cancer. They
usually grow slowly, and generally do not spread to other parts of the body.
Benign tumors can usually be removed surgically without any further problems.
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Malignant tumor (osteogenic sarcoma)
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Malignant tumors are cancer. They are usually capable of invading adjacent
tissues or metastasizing (spreading) to other parts of the body. The most common
methods for cancer to spread are through the lymphatics to regional lymph nodes
or through the bloodstream to distant organs. Because cancer can spread, it is
important to detect it as early as possible so treatment can be initiated while
the cancer is limited. Cancers are most curable when they are localized.
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Credit: Virtual
Hospital
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Authors:
Lawrence Coia & David Moylan
ISBN: 0-944838-70-7
Published: March 1998 | 568 pp
Price:
US $48.95
Contents
Reviews
Description
An updated edition of a classic in the field of radiation oncology.
This book explains the concepts and rationale behind a wide variety of
radiation therapy treatments and discusses the optimum treatment of
various cancers in different stages. It describes the clinical and
laboratory investigations needed to make treatment decisions and
discusses the pros and cons of using radiation therapy, site by site.
Extensive data on predicted outcome and complications are presented.
Includes decision trees from the Patterns of Care Study (Seminars
in Radiation Oncology, April 1997, reprinted with permission).
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