Radiotherapy

Question 0

Which waves are shortest; alpha, gamma or beta?

Answer 0

Alpha

Question 1

What are atoms made up of

Answer 1

Neutrons, protons and electrons

Question 2

Which waves are blocked by the skin?

Answer 2

Alpha

Question 3

Which waves are only stopped by an aluminium sheet

Answer 3

Beta

Question 4

Which waves are only stopped by lead?

Answer 4

Gamma, x rays

Question 5

The treatment of disease by ionising radiation is

Answer 5

Radiotherapy

Question 6

How does radiotherapy damage cancer cells

Answer 6

Disrupts DNA; stops cell cycle, cell repair and replication

Question 7

Radiotherapy damages healthy cells causing …

Answer 7

Apoptosis

Question 8

Hyper fractionated radiotherapy involves reducing the frequency of fractions ie. less than once a week. True or false

Answer 8

False

Question 9

True or false, domperidone can be prescribed to reduce the tiredness associated with radiotherapy

Answer 9

False

Question 10

Radiotherapy may be used to treat Graves’ disease as radiotherapy reduces the activity of the thyroid gland by destroying cells, true or false

Answer 10

True

Question 11

External radiotherapy involves radioactive wires or seeds (radioactive gold or iodine) being placed into the target area, true or false

Answer 11

False

Question 12

True or false, hyper fractionated radiotherapy decreases the total dose received by the patient

Answer 12

False

Question 13

True or false, every exposure to radiotherapy is known as a fraction

Answer 13

True

Question 14

True or false, hyper fractionated radiotherapy treatment is given over 12days rather than 4-6 weeks

Answer 14

True

Question 15

True or false, hypo fractionated radiotherapy involves increasing the dose of radiotherapy per fraction, then lowering the frequency of fractions

Answer 15

True

Question 16

True or false, internal radiotherapy may be given IV or tablet form

Answer 16

True

Question 17

Which two types of radiation are more likely to cause tissue or cell damage

Answer 17

Alpha

Gamma

Question 18

Is radiotherapy used to shrink tumours before surgery

Answer 18

Yes

Question 19

Approximately how long does each external fraction take

Answer 19

About 5 mins

Question 20

Which scans might be done before a patient receives external radiotherapy to check the exact position

Answer 20

PET or MRI

Question 21

Conformal radiotherapy (CRT) is routinely used for which malignancy

Answer 21

Prostate

Question 22

What does a Geiger counter do

Answer 22

Monitors radioactivity

Question 23

Which type of radiation is used in brachytherapy for cervical cancer

Answer 23

Alpha waves - shorter range, stopped by skin therefore less damaging

Question 24

Strontium 89 and samarium 153 might be used during internal radiotherapy for which types of cancer

Answer 24

Some bone cancers

Question 25

Iodine 131 might be used in internal radiotherapy to treat which cancer

Answer 25

Thyroid

Question 26

Radium 223 might be used during internal radiotherapy to treat which cancer

Answer 26

Secondary bone cancer trials

Question 27

When can the side effects of radiotherapy present themselves

Answer 27

During the treatment, or 4-6 weeks following the treatment

Question 28

What are the common side effects of radiotherapy

Answer 28

``` Tiredness Nausea and vomiting Sore skin Muscle and joint pain Infertility (dependent on where had the radiotherapy) ```

Question 29

Which type of radiotherapy is used to treat small round tumours usually found in the head?

Answer 29

Stereotactic radiotherapy

Question 30

Which type of radiotherapy is used to treat a number of benign tumours; pituitary adenomas, acoustic neuromas, meninginomas

Answer 30

Stereotactic radiotherapy

Question 31

Which type of radiotherapy involves using an external frame to keep the head in place

Answer 31

Stereotactic radiotherapy

Question 32

What might be used to treat a tumour if the patient is too ill to go to surgery

Answer 32

Radio surgery

Question 33

What type of radiotherapy emits a higher dose of radiation in the centre of the tumour which loses it's intensity distally therefore damaging less healthy cells

Answer 33

Intensely modulated RT