If you have been diagnosed with cancer, radiation therapy may be part of your treatment plan. This often-misunderstood form of cancer treatment is one of the most advanced tools your Cochise Oncology team has to offer. Xoft® radiation therapy works in a different way than most other systems, making it useful for particular types of cancer.
Radiation therapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses energy to damage the DNA of cancer cells, killing them or stopping them from dividing. In many cases, the radiation energy comes from a safely contained piece of radioactive material. In the case of Xoft®, the energy comes from a tiny source of X-rays smaller than a pill. This source targets the planned area so it can emit X-rays directly into the cancer cells with less effect on healthy tissue.
As an alternative to surgery which may cause scarring, Xoft® radiation therapy is used to treat a wide range of cancer types. At Cochise Oncology, we most often use Xoft® as a treatment for non-melanoma skin cancer. Xoft can be used in areas too difficult to access with other methods or those areas where scarring is to be avoided if at all possible, such as on the face, ears, or scalp, but it can also be used on the arms, legs, or almost any other area of skin.
Your oncology team will develop a treatment plan for your type of cancer. If Xoft® radiation therapy will be part of it, your team will explain the treatment in detail so you feel comfortable.
Xoft® works as a cancer treatment because X-rays can damage cellular DNA. The amount of energy emitted by the Xoft® source is so precise that it reaches through the cancer cells but not into healthy tissue. The energy breaks the cancer cells’ DNA, so they either die or stop dividing. Unlike removing skin cancers with surgery, Xoft® allows your oncology team to remove them scar-free.
Xoft therapy does not usually require any recovery after treatment. However, your provider may give you instructions on how to care for the treated area if needed. Because Xoft® treats such a localized area, side effects are minimal and usually limited to the skin when treating skin cancers. Some people may experience localized irritation or sensitivity.
Do you have questions about Xoft® radiation therapy? Reach out to Cochise Oncology at (520) 335-9460 or fill out the consultation form on this page. Cochise Oncology: Healing Begins Here.
