Chemotherapy and Radiation – Overview & Side Effects

By
Mary Desroches
-

4Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy is different from chemotherapy in that it involves the use of high dose radiations to kill cancerous cells in the body. The beams of radiation flood into the affected area in symmetry, first passing through the skin. They function by destroying the DNA of cells they come in contact with, leading to cell death. Radiation is applied to the area of the tumor, and any side effects are felt around that region. Radiation destroys all cells along its path, even normal cells in the body. For this reason, doctors only recommend it for treatment when there is no known chemotherapy drug (or if it isn’t available) for treating that type of cancer. [5]

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