How does the radiation kill the cancer cells?
The radiation does not actually kill the cancer cells outright, but causes damage to the genetic material (DNA) within the cells. If the treated cancer cells were biopsied and viewed through a microscope, they would appear alive and active. The destruction occurs when these injured cells attempt to reproduce by the process of mitosis (cell division). They self-destruct, die, and are eliminated by the normal body mechanism that eliminates dead cells. The idea is to give a high enough radiation dose to destroy the reproduction capabilities of every last cancer cell.
