A medical treatment that uses ionizing radiation to damage or destroy abnormal cells, particularly cancer cells.
Radiation therapy works by causing damage to the DNA of targeted cells, limiting their ability to survive and reproduce. It can be delivered from a machine outside the body or, in some circumstances, from radioactive material placed inside or near the treatment area.
Radiation therapy may be used to cure cancer, reduce the risk of recurrence, shrink tumors, relieve symptoms, or control disease. Treatment is carefully planned to deliver an appropriate dose to the target while limiting exposure to surrounding healthy tissue.
COMMONLY CONFUSED WITH
- Chemotherapy: uses medicines that circulate through the body or act systemically to treat cancer.
- Medical imaging: creates images for diagnosis or treatment planning; radiation therapy uses radiation as a treatment.
SEE ALSO
- Cancer
- Chemotherapy
- Ionizing Radiation
- Targeted Therapy
- Immunotherapy