How Effective Is Radiation Therapy for Cancer?
Radiation therapy is the process of emitting x-rays, or radiation, to an area of the body in order to damage the ability of cancer cells to divide and grow. It is one of the most popular cancer treatments, along with chemotherapy and surgery. In some instances the cancer may respond quickly, while in other cases, weeks or months of the treatment may be required before a response is seen. For others, the radiation therapy for cancer does not deter the cancer growth, regardless of the duration of the treatment. Preparation procedures may be recommended by healthcare providers to be certain the radiation targets the exact spot where it is required. A computerized tomography (CT) scan or additional x-rays might be used to pinpoint the correct area. The patient may need to undergo a simulation of radiation therapy for cancer in order to determine the most comfortable position for him or her to lie in. As it is vitally important that patients not move during treatment, the simulation period
