Dr. Resham Srivastava is a Associate Director Radiation Oncology at the Medanta Hospital, Lucknow. She did her post graduation from the prestigious SGPGIMS, Lucknow and has more than 15 years of experience in the field of Radiation Oncology.
TBI (Total Body Irradiation) is a form of radiation therapy in which the entire body is exposed to radiation. It's primarily used as part of (conditioning) regimens before bone marrow or stem cell transplantation.
The goal is to:
Destroy cancerous or abnormal bone marrow cells
Suppress the immune system to prevent rejection of the transplanted cells
Clear space in the bone marrow for new, healthy cells to grow
Radiation is given in fractions (multiple smaller doses) or a single large dose depending on the protocol.
The patient is often treated in a standing, sitting, or lying position.
Shielding may be used to protect sensitive organs (e.g., lungs, eyes, kidneys).
Uniform radiation dose across the entire body
Can eliminate microscopic disease throughout the system
Enhances success of stem cell/bone marrow transplants
TBI affects the whole body, so side effects can be significant:
Nausea, vomiting, fatigue
Skin redness or peeling
Mouth sores
Hair loss
Low blood counts (immune suppression)
Prepare patients for stem cell or bone marrow transplantation
Eliminate widespread cancer cells
Suppress the immune system