Radiotherapy applications Doctors use low-energy radioisotopes or X-rays to fluoroscopy the body to detect disease. Doctors also apply high-energy rays to treat disease. Because high-energy radiation can destroy the ability of cells to grow and divide, both normal tissue and diseased cells are affected, but most normal cells can recover quickly. Careful design of tumor target areas and focusing of high-energy rays have made radiation therapy an effective means of cancer treatment. Nearly 70% of cancer patients require radiation therapy, and radiation therapy is the only means of treatment for many malignancies. Uses of Radiation Therapy We can apply radiation to treat malignant tumors in almost all parts of the body. Sometimes radiation therapy is applied before surgery to reduce the size of the tumor, and sometimes after surgery to destroy the remaining tumor cells. Nowadays, we generally use combined surgical treatment, radiotherapy and drug therapy to destroy the growth of tumor cells and prevent the recurrence of tumor cells. Doctors from different departments in Xinhua Hospital consult with each other to develop the best plan for each tumor patient. Not only can more and more tumor patients be cured by radiotherapy alone or in combination, but radiotherapy can also be used as a means to relieve the pain of patients with advanced tumors. Most patients with advanced tumors can improve their quality of life, reduce tumor size, stop bleeding, and relieve pain with palliative radiotherapy. Risks of radiotherapy Radiotherapy mainly uses high doses of radiation to destroy cells, which kills tumors and also some healthy cells, causing radiotherapy reactions. Like other tumor treatments, radiotherapy has certain risks. At Xinhua Hospital, we work with the relevant specialists – diagnostic radiologists, surgical oncologists, pathologists, medical oncologists, pediatric oncologists, etc. – to develop low-risk, high-impact treatment plans for our patients. Radiation therapy techniques External radiation techniques Radiation therapy is used to treat patients through external radiation, internal radiation or a combination of internal and external radiation, and most tumor patients are treated with external radiation. The Department of Radiotherapy at Xinhua Hospital has more than 20 years of experience in radiation therapy and has a complete set of 3D external irradiation equipment with the current world advanced level, including: linear gas pedal with multiple energy X-rays and electron lines, automatic lead blocking system (MLC), 3D stereoscopic simulation and positioning machine (spiral CT), virtual simulation and positioning workstation (ACQSIM), 3D reverse treatment planning calculation system ( TPS), treatment verification system and computerized medical history management system (Varis), all of the above components are connected through a local computer network and the entire treatment process is controlled automatically by computer. The physician, physiatrist and technician write a treatment sheet for validation and proofreading. In addition, our hospital has installed a new radiotherapy system that can perform IGRT, a new radiotherapy technique that is guided by real-time imaging. The total value of the equipment in our hospital is more than 40 million RMB. Internal irradiation technology (post-loading therapy) Many patients need post-loading therapy, which is to treat tumors by delivering radioactive substances directly to the tumor site through the body’s natural cavity or by inserting implants. The radiotherapy department of Xinhua Hospital has an iridium 192 high dose rate afterloading treatment machine and a computerized treatment planning system for three-dimensional afterloading treatment. It can provide effective brachytherapy. Staff of Radiotherapy Department There are more than 60 staff members in the Department of Oncology Radiotherapy of Xinhua Hospital to provide quality medical services to our patients: 1) Doctors develop the best treatment plan for patients, determine the best radiotherapy plan and participate in the whole treatment process, promptly deal with various situations arising during the treatment process and patiently answer treatment-related questions from patients and their families. 2) Physiotherapists calculate and optimize the (3) Radiotherapists provide careful treatment for each patient and ensure the correct and smooth implementation of the treatment plan by taking verification films and making the necessary radiotherapy auxiliary equipment. (5) The nursing staff provides assistance to each patient in their daily life. Process of radiotherapy Initial outpatient consultation: Each patient must have a certificate of diagnosis of malignant tumor, medical history materials, examination materials (CT, MRI, PET and pathology report and other related materials) and visit the oncology radiotherapy outpatient clinic, and the doctor will decide whether there are indications for radiotherapy and chemotherapy. If there is an indication for radiotherapy, the patient can choose inpatient or outpatient treatment. Determination of treatment plan: A team of doctors will formulate a basic treatment plan according to each patient’s condition, and then the doctor in charge will discuss with the patient and family to determine the treatment plan and explain the treatment-related matters (such as efficacy, complications, sequelae, etc.), and obtain the consent authorization letter from the family. Simulation positioning: The patient lies relaxed and natural on the CT simulation bed according to the physician’s recommendations and is immobilized with a mask or vacuum pad as needed. Then marks are drawn on the body surface according to the laser positioning markers. The CT scan is then performed and the patient can go home or back to the ward to rest after the scan. The supervising physician transfers the CT scan image to the ACQSIM workstation for virtual simulation positioning, then transfers the preliminary treatment plan to the TPS workstation, where the physicist calculates and optimizes the treatment plan, and finally the supervising physician confirms the treatment plan and transfers it to the linear gas pedal treatment system, where the calculated markings are redrawn on the patient’s body surface (they need to be retained until the end of the treatment and cannot be erased ). Radiotherapy: For the first treatment, the patient is placed in the same position on the treatment bed as in the simulation, and the radiotherapist calibrates the laser positioning system according to the marks on the patient’s body surface. After the patient’s name is entered, the computer automatically gives the irradiation field size, position, dose, shape of lead block and application of auxiliary equipment according to the scheduled treatment plan.