What is radiation therapy ?

Radiation therapy kills cancer cells or slows their growth by damaging their DNA. Radiation therapy (also called radiotherapy) is a cancer treatment that uses high doses of radiation to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors.

Is it painful ?

Radiation does not hurt, sting, or burn when it enters the body. You will hear clicking or buzzing throughout the treatment and there may be a smell from the machine. Typically, people have treatment sessions 5 times per week, Monday through Friday.

What are the different types of radiation therapy ?

When is Radiation Therapy used ?

Radiotherapy may be used in the early stages of cancer or after it has started to spread. It can be used to: try to cure the cancer completely (curative radiotherapy) make other treatments more effective – for example, it can be combined with chemotherapy or used before surgery (neo-adjuvant radiotherapy)

How long do you go through Radiation Therapy ?

The total dose of external radiation therapy is usually divided into smaller doses called fractions. Most patients get radiation treatments daily, 5 days a week (Monday through Friday) for 5 to 8 weeks.

Side Effects of Radiation Therapy ?

There are some common possible side effects of radiation therapy, but side effects vary person to person. This is because side effects can depend on the type of cancer, its location, the radiation therapy dose, your general health, and other factors. It is important to talk to your health care team about any side effects you experience so they can find ways to help you.