Radiation Therapy Or Cancer Surgery: Which Is Better For Cancer Treatment ?
Cancer is one of the deadliest diseases in the world, having claimed millions of
lives. The main reason for its occurrence is the uncontrollable growth of the abnormal or atypical cells which start spreading to other parts of the body and may lead to organ failure or even death in some of the cases. Cancer occurs due to the changes in the genes of a person; so, it is considered as a genetically inherited disease. In most of the cases, cancer is not detected in the early phase which increases its severity and complexity, thus making it more harmful. If someone has been diagnosed or is suffering from this fatal disease, their doctor will recommend a proper treatment plan as a cure. This treatment plan will be based on several factors such as: age of the person, type of cancer diagnosed, its stage and health condition of the person suffering through cancer.
There are many invasive and non-invasive (non-surgical) treatments for cancer like surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, hormone therapy and stem cell therapy. Among these invasive and non-invasive treatments, oncologists prefer radiation therapy and surgery as the most common options for treating cancer.
Radiation Therapy (Radiotherapy) V/S Cancer Surgery
Cancer Surgery:
Surgery is the widely used treatment option for treating cancer by removing the
tumour or areas with the presence of cancer cells in it. Most of cancer patients get nervous after finding about the surgical procedures but doctors consider it as the best option to stop the cancerous cells from multiplying by removing the whole affected area to prevent any further damage.
Though surgeries are still performed manually by human hands but with
technology, robotic surgery is mostly preferred as it is easier and safer. In robotic surgery, a machine gets inside the human body and removes the tumours or cancer cells. Robotic surgery has lesser side effects as compared to surgery performed manually by hands. Doctors at Yashoda Superspeciality Hospital & Cancer Institute, Sanjay Nagar, Ghaziabad will choose the best surgical option to cure the person, depending upon the health condition of the patient.
To heal the body post-surgery, doctors will prescribe certain medications with
some routine checkups to avoid any complications in future. It is also advised to take proper bed rest for at least a few weeks post-surgery in order to improve the patient’s health condition. Sometimes, for the patient’s emotional well-being, rehabilitation services and supportive care are also provided.
Radiation Therapy (Radiotherapy):
In India radiation therapy (Radiotherapy) is considered as the second most popular and safe way to treat patients suffering from cancer. Radiation therapy uses high-frequency energy beams to kill the cancerous cells and stop them from spreading and damaging other parts of the body. A person undergoing
radiation therapy does not feel any pain compared to surgery. Some common side effects like pain, fatigue, anxiety, rashes on the skin etc. may be seen after radiation therapy.
In India, radiation therapy is mostly recommended by the doctor when the cancer is in the first stage. Radiation therapy is generally preferred in case of children as they may not be strong enough to bear the pain of surgery. Doctors will pick up the best possible option to treat the disease after considering all the pros and cons of various treatment options available.
Conclusion:
If you are still confused or unable to understand whether to go for radiation
therapy or opt for surgery, the best solution for your problem is to leave it to the specialist. Oncologists/Specialists at Yashoda Superspeciality Hospital & Cancer Institute, Sanjay Nagar, Ghaziabad will choose the best possible treatment option as per your age and health conditions. Doctors, surgeons and oncologists at Yashoda Hospital always use a multidisciplinary approach to provide you with the best treatment, giving you an unbiased opinion. In case of any doubt or if you are not convinced with the treatment method suggested by your doctor, always go for a second opinion and see what works best.
On the parameters of safety, both radiation therapy and surgery are considered
equally good to treat cancer. But if we compare both on the basis of the side effects involved, then surgery exhibits more side effects than radiation therapy. In some serious conditions, your doctor may suggest a combination of different treatments for your speedy recovery.
Best oncologists for treating various types of cancer in Delhi NCR:
Dr. (Brig.) Arvind Kumar Tyagi is the Director of Surgical Oncology. Dr. Tyagi
has more than 30 years of experience in the field of surgical oncology. He is one of the best onco-surgeons in Delhi NCR. He has served for almost 30 years in the armed forces and has been practicing as a surgical oncologist across various Armed Forces Hospitals all over India.
Dr. (Col.) N. Chakravarty is the Director of Radiation Oncology at Yashoda
Superspeciality Hospital & Cancer Institute, Sanjay Nagar, Ghaziabad. With his ex-army experience lasting more than 30 years, he has been bestowed with the honour of being the Chief of Army Staff Commendation. Having completed his M.B.B.S. from BRD Medical College, Gorakhpur University, he pursued his post-graduation from the National Board of Examinations. Prior to joining Yashoda Dr. Chakravarty was the HOD, Radiation Oncology at the Army Hospital (R&R), Delhi Cantt.
