Radiation therapy is radiation treatment that attacks a cancer locally (i.e., in a specific part of the body). The radiation applied to the treated area destroys the cancer cells by damaging their DNA.
This radiation is invisible and doesn’t hurt when applied. However, just like any other therapy, radiation therapy may cause side effects. Each patient reacts differently, and a lack of side effects does not mean that the treatment is ineffective.
The goal of radiation therapy is
- Kill cancer cells in the tumour or any residual cancer cells following surgery.
- Relieve pain.
- Decrease bleeding.
- Decrease nerve or vascular compressions, i.e., reduce the volume of a tumour compressing a nerve or blood vessel.
