What is Radiation Therapy?

Radiation therapy is a form of cancer treatment and focuses on very specific and delimited areas. It consists of receiving radiation for a few minutes with a machine in the specific place. The machine is big, makes noise and moves around the child, but never touches it. He won't feel or see the radiation and it's not painful.

Where and how does it happen?

This treatment is given by a radiologist oncologist in the radiation therapy area of the hospital. Each child carries an individualized treatment and varies the number of sessions according to the type of tumor, size and location.

Do you have side effects?

There may be one, several, or no side effects and only temporarily. The most common are: hair loss, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and skin changes.

Source: Nacif Gobera, Loris and Hegewisch Aznar, Andrea (2014). Guide for parents of children with cancer. Mexico City: Casa dela Amistad for Children with Cancer I.A.P. and Sana C0lita de Rana S.A. de C.V.