Radiation Therapy: Using Physics to Treat Cancer

Radiation therapy uses high-energy particles or waves to kill cancer cells.
X-rays, gamma rays, and proton beams are the most common radiation sources.
Cancer cells are more vulnerable to radiation damage than healthy cells.
Linear accelerators generate focused beams for external beam therapy.
Proton therapy delivers energy precisely, sparing nearby healthy tissue.
Brachytherapy places tiny radioactive sources directly inside the body.
Treatment is carefully planned with imaging and physics-based calculations.
Radiation can shrink tumors before surgery or destroy remaining cells after.
Side effects occur because healthy cells near the tumor can also be hit.
Advances in physics make radiation therapy more precise and life-saving.