Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy involves the transfer of energy to specific parts of the body in order to damage the DNA of cells which are not functioning properly. Most often, this is in the setting of cancer where unregulated cell growth can lead to formation of tumors.
Therapeutic radiation is usually generated by machines called linear accelerators and then delivered to specific parts of the body through a process known as external beam radiation. Sometimes radioactive sources are implanted directly into tumors.
Radiation therapy is one of the most effective forms of cancer treatment as all cancer cells are susceptible to the damage that radiation therapy may cause. The difficulty lies in the ability to deliver an adequate radiation dose to the tumor while also shielding the surrounding normal tissues, which are also sensitive to radiation treatment.
Using modern radiation therapeutic technology, highly focused treatments that target specific tissues and spare others are now possible to any area of the body. Learn more about Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy for treatment of diseases such as prostate cancer.