How You Can Get Radiation Therapy for Leukemia

Once your radiation oncologist has mapped out your treatment plan, a radiation therapist treats you. There are a few ways to do that.

• External radiation to your whole body. This is called total body irradiation (TBI). TBI is often done before a stem cell transplant. It helps kill leukemia cells and helps keep your body from rejecting the transplant. Radiation comes from a machine that is directed to the outside of your entire body. Special shields protect your healthy organs. You will need to stay in the hospital for this treatment.

• External radiation to one part of your body. This is used to treat leukemia that has spread to areas such as your brain, spinal fluid, or testicles. It may kill leukemia cells or help reduce bone pain. Or it may be used, in rare cases, to shrink a tumor. This treatment directs strong X-rays very precisely. Each session takes only a few minutes. You can have it done as an outpatient. That means you don’t need to stay overnight in the hospital.