جالب
Fast Facts About Radiation Therapy
ƒ¤ Nearly two-thirds of all cancer patients will
receive radiation therapy during their illness.
ƒ¤ In 2004, nearly 1 million patients were treated
with radiation therapy.
ƒ¤ In 2004, patients made about 23.4 million
radiation therapy treatment visits to 2,010
hospitals and freestanding radiation therapy
centers.
ƒ¤ Three cancers ¡V breast cancer, prostate cancer
and lung cancer ¡V make up more than half
(56 percent) of all cancers treated with
radiation therapy.
ƒ¤ In 2004, radiation therapy centers in the United
States employed an estimated 29,970 people full-time.
The number of employees increased 3 percent from 2003.
ƒ¤ The average radiation oncologist sees between 200 and 300 patients annually.
ƒ¤ Medicare and Medicaid are the predominant source of payment for radiation
oncology procedures.
ƒ¤ It is estimated that about 1.4 million new cases of cancer will be diagnosed
this year.
ƒ¤ Each year, about 560,000 Americans die from cancer ¡V more than 1,500
people a day.
ƒ¤ Cancer is the second leading cause of death among all Americans.
ƒ¤ Cancer is the leading cause of death among Americans under the age of 85.
ƒ¤ In the United States, one out of every four deaths is attributed to cancer.
ƒ¤ Over the course of a lifetime, one in three women and one in two men will
develop cancer.
Sources: American Cancer Society, IMV Medical Information Division, SROA Benchmarking Survey
It is estimated that nearly two-thirds of cancer patients
receive radiation therapy as part of their treatment, though
it is perhaps the least well-known or understood cancer
treatment option. For many cancer patients, in fact,
radiation therapy is the only treatment they will receive.
Radiation therapy, sometimes called radiotherapy, is the
use of various forms of radiation to treat cancer and other
diseases safely and effectively. Doctors use radiation
therapy to try to cure cancer, to control the growth of the
cancer or to relieve symptoms, such as pain. It can be used
to treat cancer in almost any part of the body, although
breast cancer, lung cancer and prostate cancer make up more than half of all patients receiving
radiation therapy. Radiation is also used to treat several benign diseases, such as non-cancerous
tumors, heart disorders and thyroid problems.
During cancer treatment, the radiation oncology team members carefully focus X-rays, gamma rays
and other sources of radiation directly on the tumor site in the body. The radiation works by damaging
the DNA within cancer cells and destroying the ability of the cancer cells to reproduce. When these
damaged cells die, the body naturally eliminates them. Normal cells are also affected by radiation, but
they can repair themselves in a way that cancer cells cannot.
The goal of radiation therapy is to kill the cancer cells without damaging surrounding healthy tissue.
The radiation therapy team works together to plan each treatment and direct the radiation to the
precise cancer location. By targeting the radiation directly on the cancer, the radiation oncology team
can to minimize the damage to the patient¡¦s normal cells.
Patients receive radiation therapy in one of two ways: externally or internally. During external
radiation, a beam of radiation is directed through the skin to the tumor and immediate surrounding
area in order to destroy the tumor and any nearby cancer cells. The beam can be made up of electrons
(X-rays or gamma rays), protons or neutrons.
Internal radiation, or brachytherapy, from the Greek word brachy meaning ¡§close by,¡¨ is the placement
of radioactive sources in or just next to a tumor. To position the sources accurately, special catheters
or applicators are used. Radiation sources are placed very close to the tumor to allow the radiation
oncologist to deliver a large dose of radiation directly to the cancer cells with minimal exposure to
normal healthy tissue.
Radiation has been used to treat cancer for more than a century; however, the past 20 years have seen
enormous technological improvements. These improvements allow radiation oncologists to better
target tumors, resulting in higher cure rates with fewer side effects.
What Is Radiation Therapy
Who We Are
Radiation oncologists, radiation oncology nurses, medical physicists, radiation therapists,
dosimetrists, biologists and other interested professionals comprise ASTRO¡¦s nearly 9,000
members, making it the largest radiation oncology organization in the world. These medical
professionals, found at hospitals and cancer treatment centers around the globe, make up the
radiation therapy treatment teams that are critical in the fight against cancer. These teams,
which often include a nutritionist and a social worker, see and treat millions of people
worldwide living with a diagnosis of cancer.
Among our members are healthcare professionals from well-known community practice centers
as well as major academic research facilities. ASTRO provides these cancer care professionals
with the continuing medical education, health policy analysis, patient information resources
and advocacy that they need in order to help cancer patients beat their disease.
Founded in 1958, ASTRO is dedicated to improving patient care through education, clinical
practice, advancement of science and advocacy.
Within the specific field of radiation oncology, we provide our members with numerous
educational and professional development opportunities ¡V from sponsoring hands-on
educational courses year- round to sponsoring the premier radiation oncology research journal,
International Journal of Radiation Oncology*Biology*Physics. ASTRO is committed to continued
excellence in patient care through a team-based treatment approach.
ASTRO also focuses on fostering collaboration between radiation oncologists and the
larger medical community. We work to establish links between our members and medical
oncologists, surgeons, radiologists, urologists, gynecologists, internists, family practitioners
and other healthcare professionals to ensure that patients are offered the most up-to-date
treatments available in order to choose the treatments that best suit their cancer and lifestyle.
To better educate the patients whom our members work so hard to cure,
ASTRO works closely with the media to promote accurate
articles on scientific breakthroughs
involving radiation therapies.
We also work with
patient advocacy
organizations
to publish
educational
materials that
keep patients
and the public
informed
about radiation
therapy as a
safe and effective
treatment
option.
What We Do
Onward and upward
ASTRO¡¦s ongoing mission is to continue to advance the practice of radiation oncology and
thereby promote excellence in cancer patient care around the world. Toward that end, we apply
our energies and resources in key areas of education, healthcare policy, government relations,
research and public awareness.
Education
ASTRO is constantly searching for ways to help
patients by providing ongoing educational
opportunities to keep our members at the forefront
of radiation oncology research, technology and
practice. In keeping with this goal, we are
committed to publishing and promoting
educational materials to keep physicians and the
public informed about the benefits of radiation
therapy as a leading treatment option for cancer
and other diseases. ASTRO¡¦s premier educational
event is its Annual Scientific Meeting. Held each
fall, this five-day meeting draws more than 11,000
attendees from around the world to learn the
latest advances in the fight against cancer.
ASTRO also offers many online educational opportunities through the ASTRO School of Radiation Oncology
portal at www.asro.astro.org.
Healthcare Policy
The regulatory environment of healthcare practice in the United
States has grown increasingly complicated in recent years ¡V
and promises to become only more complex. ASTRO works to
represent the entire radiation oncology community in this
environment and to work closely with various state and
federal government agencies to keep our members informed
as to the best ways to navigate the pathways of the current
and future reimbursement and coding systems. ASTRO also
publishes a comprehensive guide to radiation oncology
coding.
Government Relations
Research
Within the field of radiation oncology, ASTRO promotes scientific and technological advances by
sponsoring meetings for oncologists and other healthcare providers on the latest advances in radiation
therapy. ASTRO disseminates the latest research in radiation oncology, biology and physics through
its pre-eminent journal, which keeps our members updated on breakthroughs in the field. ASTRO also
sponsors several different grants and awards to help researchers continue to search for a cure for cancer.
Since 2000, ASTRO¡¦s foundation has provided nearly $2.5 million to deserving researchers, clinicians and
programs.
Public Awareness
ASTRO¡¦s award-winning Public Awareness Campaign
has produced more than a dozen brochures
in English and Spanish to help patients
and their families understand how
radiation therapy is used to treat
specific types of cancer. In 2005, ASTRO
launched a dedicated patient Web site
¡V www.rtanswers.org ¡V to help patients find
radiation therapy information quickly and easily.
ASTRO also maintains a directory allowing patients
to easily locate a cancer specialist in their area.
One of ASTRO¡¦s ongoing goals is to establish a comprehensive advocacy
program that directly addresses legislative and regulatory issues affecting
radiation oncology and advances the interests of our members and the
patients they serve before Congress, the White House and federal
agencies. We work to accomplish this by educating our members on key
legislative and regulatory issues affecting radiation through our annual
Advocacy Day held in Washington, D.C., and through updates by Action
Alerts and various publications.
Our efforts include a grassroots action center and a federal political action committee ¡V ASTRO PAC.
We work to help our members understand all legislative proposals that have an impact on radiation
therapy, cancer research and their practice of medicine. In addition, we work with lawmakers and federal
agency officials to help them understand the important role that radiation oncology plays in treating and
researching cancer, as well as its positive impact on the entire healthcare system.
American Society for Therapeutic
Ra diology and Oncology
8280 Willow Oaks Corporate Drive, Suite 500
Fairfax, VA 22031
1-800-962-7876
www.astro.org
www.rtanswers.org
c ASTRO 2007
ASTRO, the American Society for Therapeutic
Radiology and Oncology, is the world¡¦s leading
organization devoted to radiation oncology.
With offices in Washington, D.C., and Fairfax, Va.,
ASTRO represents more than 9,000 medical and
scientific professionals who use radiation therapy
to treat patients with cancer and other diseases.
Printed on 50% recycled, 25% post consumer paper, that is Forest Stewardship Council certified.
Printed with vegetable-based, acid free and elemental chlorine free inks
ƒ¤ Nearly two-thirds of all cancer patients will
receive radiation therapy during their illness.
ƒ¤ In 2004, nearly 1 million patients were treated
with radiation therapy.
ƒ¤ In 2004, patients made about 23.4 million
radiation therapy treatment visits to 2,010
hospitals and freestanding radiation therapy
centers.
ƒ¤ Three cancers ¡V breast cancer, prostate cancer
and lung cancer ¡V make up more than half
(56 percent) of all cancers treated with
radiation therapy.
ƒ¤ In 2004, radiation therapy centers in the United
States employed an estimated 29,970 people full-time.
The number of employees increased 3 percent from 2003.
ƒ¤ The average radiation oncologist sees between 200 and 300 patients annually.
ƒ¤ Medicare and Medicaid are the predominant source of payment for radiation
oncology procedures.
ƒ¤ It is estimated that about 1.4 million new cases of cancer will be diagnosed
this year.
ƒ¤ Each year, about 560,000 Americans die from cancer ¡V more than 1,500
people a day.
ƒ¤ Cancer is the second leading cause of death among all Americans.
ƒ¤ Cancer is the leading cause of death among Americans under the age of 85.
ƒ¤ In the United States, one out of every four deaths is attributed to cancer.
ƒ¤ Over the course of a lifetime, one in three women and one in two men will
develop cancer.
Sources: American Cancer Society, IMV Medical Information Division, SROA Benchmarking Survey
It is estimated that nearly two-thirds of cancer patients
receive radiation therapy as part of their treatment, though
it is perhaps the least well-known or understood cancer
treatment option. For many cancer patients, in fact,
radiation therapy is the only treatment they will receive.
Radiation therapy, sometimes called radiotherapy, is the
use of various forms of radiation to treat cancer and other
diseases safely and effectively. Doctors use radiation
therapy to try to cure cancer, to control the growth of the
cancer or to relieve symptoms, such as pain. It can be used
to treat cancer in almost any part of the body, although
breast cancer, lung cancer and prostate cancer make up more than half of all patients receiving
radiation therapy. Radiation is also used to treat several benign diseases, such as non-cancerous
tumors, heart disorders and thyroid problems.
During cancer treatment, the radiation oncology team members carefully focus X-rays, gamma rays
and other sources of radiation directly on the tumor site in the body. The radiation works by damaging
the DNA within cancer cells and destroying the ability of the cancer cells to reproduce. When these
damaged cells die, the body naturally eliminates them. Normal cells are also affected by radiation, but
they can repair themselves in a way that cancer cells cannot.
The goal of radiation therapy is to kill the cancer cells without damaging surrounding healthy tissue.
The radiation therapy team works together to plan each treatment and direct the radiation to the
precise cancer location. By targeting the radiation directly on the cancer, the radiation oncology team
can to minimize the damage to the patient¡¦s normal cells.
Patients receive radiation therapy in one of two ways: externally or internally. During external
radiation, a beam of radiation is directed through the skin to the tumor and immediate surrounding
area in order to destroy the tumor and any nearby cancer cells. The beam can be made up of electrons
(X-rays or gamma rays), protons or neutrons.
Internal radiation, or brachytherapy, from the Greek word brachy meaning ¡§close by,¡¨ is the placement
of radioactive sources in or just next to a tumor. To position the sources accurately, special catheters
or applicators are used. Radiation sources are placed very close to the tumor to allow the radiation
oncologist to deliver a large dose of radiation directly to the cancer cells with minimal exposure to
normal healthy tissue.
Radiation has been used to treat cancer for more than a century; however, the past 20 years have seen
enormous technological improvements. These improvements allow radiation oncologists to better
target tumors, resulting in higher cure rates with fewer side effects.
What Is Radiation Therapy
Who We Are
Radiation oncologists, radiation oncology nurses, medical physicists, radiation therapists,
dosimetrists, biologists and other interested professionals comprise ASTRO¡¦s nearly 9,000
members, making it the largest radiation oncology organization in the world. These medical
professionals, found at hospitals and cancer treatment centers around the globe, make up the
radiation therapy treatment teams that are critical in the fight against cancer. These teams,
which often include a nutritionist and a social worker, see and treat millions of people
worldwide living with a diagnosis of cancer.
Among our members are healthcare professionals from well-known community practice centers
as well as major academic research facilities. ASTRO provides these cancer care professionals
with the continuing medical education, health policy analysis, patient information resources
and advocacy that they need in order to help cancer patients beat their disease.
Founded in 1958, ASTRO is dedicated to improving patient care through education, clinical
practice, advancement of science and advocacy.
Within the specific field of radiation oncology, we provide our members with numerous
educational and professional development opportunities ¡V from sponsoring hands-on
educational courses year- round to sponsoring the premier radiation oncology research journal,
International Journal of Radiation Oncology*Biology*Physics. ASTRO is committed to continued
excellence in patient care through a team-based treatment approach.
ASTRO also focuses on fostering collaboration between radiation oncologists and the
larger medical community. We work to establish links between our members and medical
oncologists, surgeons, radiologists, urologists, gynecologists, internists, family practitioners
and other healthcare professionals to ensure that patients are offered the most up-to-date
treatments available in order to choose the treatments that best suit their cancer and lifestyle.
To better educate the patients whom our members work so hard to cure,
ASTRO works closely with the media to promote accurate
articles on scientific breakthroughs
involving radiation therapies.
We also work with
patient advocacy
organizations
to publish
educational
materials that
keep patients
and the public
informed
about radiation
therapy as a
safe and effective
treatment
option.
What We Do
Onward and upward
ASTRO¡¦s ongoing mission is to continue to advance the practice of radiation oncology and
thereby promote excellence in cancer patient care around the world. Toward that end, we apply
our energies and resources in key areas of education, healthcare policy, government relations,
research and public awareness.
Education
ASTRO is constantly searching for ways to help
patients by providing ongoing educational
opportunities to keep our members at the forefront
of radiation oncology research, technology and
practice. In keeping with this goal, we are
committed to publishing and promoting
educational materials to keep physicians and the
public informed about the benefits of radiation
therapy as a leading treatment option for cancer
and other diseases. ASTRO¡¦s premier educational
event is its Annual Scientific Meeting. Held each
fall, this five-day meeting draws more than 11,000
attendees from around the world to learn the
latest advances in the fight against cancer.
ASTRO also offers many online educational opportunities through the ASTRO School of Radiation Oncology
portal at www.asro.astro.org.
Healthcare Policy
The regulatory environment of healthcare practice in the United
States has grown increasingly complicated in recent years ¡V
and promises to become only more complex. ASTRO works to
represent the entire radiation oncology community in this
environment and to work closely with various state and
federal government agencies to keep our members informed
as to the best ways to navigate the pathways of the current
and future reimbursement and coding systems. ASTRO also
publishes a comprehensive guide to radiation oncology
coding.
Government Relations
Research
Within the field of radiation oncology, ASTRO promotes scientific and technological advances by
sponsoring meetings for oncologists and other healthcare providers on the latest advances in radiation
therapy. ASTRO disseminates the latest research in radiation oncology, biology and physics through
its pre-eminent journal, which keeps our members updated on breakthroughs in the field. ASTRO also
sponsors several different grants and awards to help researchers continue to search for a cure for cancer.
Since 2000, ASTRO¡¦s foundation has provided nearly $2.5 million to deserving researchers, clinicians and
programs.
Public Awareness
ASTRO¡¦s award-winning Public Awareness Campaign
has produced more than a dozen brochures
in English and Spanish to help patients
and their families understand how
radiation therapy is used to treat
specific types of cancer. In 2005, ASTRO
launched a dedicated patient Web site
¡V www.rtanswers.org ¡V to help patients find
radiation therapy information quickly and easily.
ASTRO also maintains a directory allowing patients
to easily locate a cancer specialist in their area.
One of ASTRO¡¦s ongoing goals is to establish a comprehensive advocacy
program that directly addresses legislative and regulatory issues affecting
radiation oncology and advances the interests of our members and the
patients they serve before Congress, the White House and federal
agencies. We work to accomplish this by educating our members on key
legislative and regulatory issues affecting radiation through our annual
Advocacy Day held in Washington, D.C., and through updates by Action
Alerts and various publications.
Our efforts include a grassroots action center and a federal political action committee ¡V ASTRO PAC.
We work to help our members understand all legislative proposals that have an impact on radiation
therapy, cancer research and their practice of medicine. In addition, we work with lawmakers and federal
agency officials to help them understand the important role that radiation oncology plays in treating and
researching cancer, as well as its positive impact on the entire healthcare system.
American Society for Therapeutic
Ra diology and Oncology
8280 Willow Oaks Corporate Drive, Suite 500
Fairfax, VA 22031
1-800-962-7876
www.astro.org
www.rtanswers.org
c ASTRO 2007
ASTRO, the American Society for Therapeutic
Radiology and Oncology, is the world¡¦s leading
organization devoted to radiation oncology.
With offices in Washington, D.C., and Fairfax, Va.,
ASTRO represents more than 9,000 medical and
scientific professionals who use radiation therapy
to treat patients with cancer and other diseases.
Printed on 50% recycled, 25% post consumer paper, that is Forest Stewardship Council certified.
Printed with vegetable-based, acid free and elemental chlorine free inks
+ نوشته شده در جمعه ۱۳۹۰/۰۶/۱۱ ساعت 11:40 توسط مایکل
|
