How is radiation used to treat cancer?
Dr. Marks: Radiation therapy – which delivers a precisely controlled dose of radiation to kill cancer cells – is often a very appropriate and effective way to treat cancer. You should always feel free to discuss any concerns with your physician or other members of your healthcare team to ensure that you understand why radiation therapy is being recommended as well as the risks and potential benefits. How can you be sure that your treatment is being carried out safely? Dr. Marks: Be sure you understand the steps that are being taken to ensure your safety. Here at UNC Radiation Oncology we take multiple steps to ensure that radiation therapy for cancer is as safe as possible. First, we plan your therapy, with a team of people who specialize in calculating the appropriate dose of radiation and method of delivery that is most likely to be effective for your tumor. This plan is reviewed by a team of multiple doctors, physicists and specialists in calculating radiation dosage. Then, we check
