Has your doctor diagnosed you or someone you know with cancer and told you they need radiation therapy? Then you've probably heard the term `IGRT.' You might be a little scared when you hear this, wondering, 'What the hell is this?' But don't worry. Today, we'll talk about it in a very simple way that you can understand. This is a very advanced and safe method used to destroy cancer cells.
What is IGRT simply?
Simply put, Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT) is a special method of delivering radiation therapy. The main goal of this is to destroy cancer cells and shrink or completely eliminate tumors.
Imagine that a cancer in your body moves during treatment. For example, a cancer in your lungs might move when you breathe. Then, if you were to deliver radiation in a normal manner, it might not hit the cancer directly, but instead damage the surrounding healthy tissue.
IGRT technology is used as a solution to this problem. Like a skilled sniper, this technology pinpoints the exact location of cancer cells and targets them with radiation energy.
This is a type of external beam radiation therapy (EBRT). It uses a special machine called a LINAC. This machine directs high-energy rays (X-ray/photon beams) at the cancer. Most importantly, this machine never touches your body.
With IGRT, your doctor takes new images before and during the treatment session. By comparing those images with previous ones, they can instantly adjust the radiation beam to see if the location of the cancer has changed slightly. This minimizes damage to healthy tissue.
What types of cancer is this treatment used for?
Radiation oncologists typically use IGRT to treat the following types of cancer:
- Lung cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Brain cancer
- Abdominal cancer
- Gynecological cancer, such as ovarian, uterine, or vaginal cancer
- Head and neck cancer
Often, IGRT is used in combination with other advanced radiation therapy technologies, such as `(IMRT)` (Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy) or `(SBRT)` (Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy).
How should I prepare before treatment?
If you have been prescribed this treatment, your doctor will explain to you clearly what will happen before, during, and after the treatment. Usually, a "treatment planning session" (treatment simulation) is done before the actual treatment begins.
This involves taking scans and images of your body, taking very precise measurements using laser beams, and creating a treatment plan that is specific to you. The medical team will explain everything to you beforehand, so there is no reason to be afraid.
What happens during treatment?
Like other external radiation treatments, you lie down on a treatment table. Then a machine directs the radiation beams at the cancer.
This is where IGRT comes in. Your medical team takes new scans during treatment and compares those images with those taken during previous planning sessions. Different types of scans can be used for this.
| Type of Scan Used |
|---|
| X-ray |
| Computed Tomography (CT) Scan |
| Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan |
| Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan |
| Ultrasound scan |
Sometimes the equipment that can do this scanning is built into the machine that gives the radiation. Or, you may be taken to the table where the scanner is located.
How long does this treatment session take?
Most IGRT treatment sessions last between 15 and 20 minutes . However, sometimes they can last 30 minutes or even an hour. This is because the treatment has to be stopped halfway through, new scans taken, and the position of the radiation beam or the position of the table you are on has to be adjusted. Your medical team will explain this to you in advance.
Benefits and side effects of IGRT treatment
IGRT therapy is a very effective and safe method of treating cancers in moving parts of the body.
- The target is very precise: Because it targets only the cancer, the treatment is more successful.
- Protection of healthy tissue: Radiation exposure to healthy tissue around the cancer is minimized.
- Fewer side effects: Because there is less damage to healthy tissue, there may be fewer side effects than with conventional radiation therapy.
Possible side effects
Recovery time and side effects may vary from person to person, but some common side effects include:
- Diarrhea
- Fatigue
- Nausea and vomiting
- Skin changes (e.g., redness, itching)
Important: Talk to your doctor about this. If the side effects are worse than expected or do not go away, be sure to let your doctor know.
What is the difference between IGRT, IMRT and SBRT?
These three names can be a bit confusing. These are all advanced radiation treatments. Let's take a look at the main differences.
| Technology | Key Feature |
|---|---|
| IMRT (Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy) | The treatment is performed by changing the intensity of the radiation beam using scan images taken before the treatment begins. |
| SBRT (Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy) | Based on images taken before treatment, a very high dose of radiation is delivered with great precision, over several sessions. |
| IGRT (Image-Guided Radiation Therapy) | Images are taken before and during treatment, and adjustments are made in real-time based on the location of the cancer. |
Doctors are always trying to choose the most effective and safest way to treat cancer. IGRT is one of those efforts. If you have cancer, your doctor will examine your condition and recommend the most appropriate and safest radiation treatment for you. They will be happy to explain why they are recommending IGRT, the treatment process, and what you should expect during and after treatment.
Take-Home Message
- IGRT is an advanced treatment method that delivers radiation that is very precisely targeted to cancer cells.
- The main advantage of this is that images can be obtained during treatment and even a moving tumor can be precisely targeted.
- The primary goal is to destroy cancer cells while protecting surrounding healthy tissue as much as possible.
- Side effects are possible, but your medical team will help you manage them.
- Feel free to ask your doctor any questions you may have about this treatment.
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