Related Terms • internal radiation • adjuvant therapy • vaginal stenosis

Definition: Using high energy radiation to shrink tumors and kill cancer cells in the area. The source of the radiation can be from a machine positioned near the patient, called external beam radiation therapy, or from a source of radiation planted inside the body, called internal radiation therapy. For gynecologic cancer patients, the source of internal radiation is often inserted vaginally. In this case, special aftercare recommendations must be followed to prevent vaginal stenosis.

Also Known As: Radiotherapy, irradiation, X-ray therapy

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