Radiation therapy is one of the most effective ways to combat cancer and is used to treat cancer by itself or in combination with other forms of treatment, most often surgery or chemotherapy. It works by focusing a beam of ionizing radiation on the cancerous growth or implanting radioactive sources in the cancerous area.

Only a specific area is treated so that there is minimal damage to surrounding healthy tissue.  Radiation therapy has been used to treat both malignant and benign tumors for nearly a century and plays an integral role in the successful treatment of cancer today.

External beam radiation therapy is a non-invasive, painless procedure so there are no knives, needles or anesthetics involved. Radiation therapy can also be performed on an outpatient basis, without the need for a hospital stay.

The radiation oncologist will determine the number and frequency of treatments, based on your needs. The typical course of treatment is over a two-week to eight-week period, five days a week.