Overcoming Fears About Radiation
The word "radiation" has negative connotations. Daly thinks the public needs to learn about the importance of radiation in treating cancer. "Some may not understand how it works,” she says. And, she adds, some may not know how many people are cured with radiation.
One fear, Daly says, may come from what people hear about childhood cancer survivors. Some develop secondary cancers because of being treated with radiation.
Fisher agrees these side effects are an important consideration. But Fisher also notes that without the use of radiation therapy the children with those childhood cancers could die. Plus, says Fisher, people need to know that the side effects aren’t necessarily debilitating. More patients do extremely well with it than have major side effects. Also, many of the advances help reduce the side effects.
Coleman says the risk of secondary cancer is quite low. The exception is in certain high-risk groups. This includes adolescent women who receive radiation to the breast while their breasts are developing. It also includes patients who have intensive combined modality therapy with a large amount of chemotherapy and radiation.
Coleman says the fear of radiation comes from the fact it is silent. “It is not tangible,” he says. “It can’t be seen, felt, or heard." He thinks health professionals can work with patients to overcome these fears. They can help patients realize that doctors, radiation therapists, and nurses closely monitor the radiation. They can also help patients realize that they are all working hard to cure the cancer.