Cancer survivorship, debunking myths and misconceptions surrounding radiation therapy
June is the international cancer survivors month. Contrary to popular belief, cancer is not so black as it is often painted. Many people are not sure if cancer is curable, some even believe that cancer treatment kills more than it cures. Let’s be clear, cancer treatment whether surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy is no walk in the park. The side effects can be tough but these treatments do work! They are those who go through cancer treatment and survive. In Zimbabwe, the following three major methods are used to treat cancer either alone or in conjunction with each other as in most cases.
surgery
chemotherapy
radiotherapy
A lot of questions surround radiation therapy commonly known as kupisa (which means to burn) in vernacular language. In summary radiation therapy:
is the treatment of cancer and non-cancerous cells using ionising radiation in the form of high Xrays and gamma rays
is either given radically to achieve cure or for palliation in advanced disease to ease symptoms and improve the quality of life of the patient.
uses very big machines called linear accelerators to treat the patients, the country has six of these machines
is normally given daily from Monday to Friday with breaks during weekends until the treatment is finished depending on the number of days a patient is given.
is delivered to the patient by a noble group of highly-skilled professionals called radiation therapists. The country has only about 50 people in this unique profession.
As we celebrate cancer survivors month, when it comes to something as important as radiation therapy in cancer treatment, getting to the bottom of some of the myths could help people to make informed decisions in their battle against cancer and come for treatment on time and Zimbabwe will have more cancer success stories!
As a radiation therapist with indepth knowledge and expertise in the field of radiation therapy and oncology, I am here to dispel any myths and misconceptions you may have regarding radiation therapy! Myth one: Radiation is painful
The fact that radiation therapy is commonly called kupisa in our vernacular language has made many assume that the treatment results in a burning sensation and must be very painful, receiving radiation is not painful, the delivery process cannot be felt and is completely painless. However, after a few weeks there can be skin soreness and dryness over the treated area but the side effects are temporary. Myth two: Radiation therapy will cause me to lose my hair
Hair loss on the head is typically only a risk factor if you are receiving radiation therapy to the brain. In fact, hair loss on the head is a more common side effect of chemotherapy, not radiation therapy. There are certain chemotherapy drugs that make hair fall, so prior to treatment patients are advised to shave their heads bald but the hair normally grows back some time after treatment.
Myth three: Radiation therapy increases my chances of developing more cancers
The risk of a second cancer from radiation treatment is very low and a very late potential side effect of radiation that can occur later, for adults the risk of developing a radiation-induced cancer is only about one in 150 to one in 200. This second cancer risk is most often outweighed by the benefit of treating the active known cancer, each patient should work with his or her doctor to understand any late side effects of radiation therapy and all
the risks versus benefits to make an informed decision about your course of cancer care. Myth four: Radiation therapy causes me to be more radioactive
The vast majority of radiotherapy, both external and internal, do not involve leaving any radioactive materials in the body, so the patient will not be radioactive after treatment, and it is perfectly safe to be around loved ones.
Myth 5: Radiotherapy will cause cancer to spread and kill me
It is a fact that about 80% of our cancer patients present themselves at the radiotherapy institutions when the cancer is at an advanced stage. Radiotherapy is very frequently given late in the course of cancer to palliate symptoms, often after the cancer has turned resistant to chemotherapy and has spread widely or when the patient is too frail to receive any other therapy, the terminal cancer will take its natural course no matter what is done. In such cases, relatives may form a misunderstanding that radiotherapy given soon before death caused the tumour to progress and the patient to die. This is untrue. A good prognosis is the result of treating cancer at earlier stages, we encourage early detection and treatment to save lives!
In Zimbabwe, radiotherapy is offered at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital and Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo and a private cancer facility Oncocare in newlands, Harare. The centres provide treatment on an outpatient basis. As radiation therapists, we reflect on how we have been working hard over the years to ensure reliable, safe and consistent services are rendered at our institutions. With such wellequipped state-of-the-art radiation therapy facilities in the country, we assure you that cancer patients get the best service.
However it is our wish as a profession that our centres are always “fully functional” so that we continue with our noble mission to save lives and have more cancer survivors! Michelle Chishamiso Madzudzo is the Talk Cancer Zimbabwe founder and president. She is a radiation therapist by profession. She writes in her personal capacity.