Radiation therapy

Radiation therapy uses high-energy X-rays to kill cancer cells in one part of the body.

Radiation therapy in high doses kills cells or keeps them from growing and dividing. Because cancer cells grow and divide more rapidly than most normal cells around them, radiation therapy can successfully treat many kinds of cancer. Normal cells also are affected by radiation but, unlike cancer cells, most recover. View types of radiation therapy.

How radiation is administered

Radiation is delivered externally or internally. Some patients with prostate cancer receive both internal and external radiation. External radiation usually is administered on an outpatient basis five days a week for several weeks. Internal radiation therapy, on the other hand, requires a procedure to implant the radioactive device directly into or near the tumor. Implants may be permanent or removed after a certain period of time. Radiation therapy does not make you radioactive; you cannot spread radiation to those near you.

Radiation therapy is used alone or in combination with surgery or chemotherapy to treat cancer. When the cancer is localized and its cells are radiosensitive, as in prostate cancer, radiation therapy may be used.

Side effects

Radiation therapy has proven successful in fighting cancer for many patients. However, as with chemotherapy, treatment can produce side effects, including diarrhea, hair loss and fatigue. Learn more about these potential side effects of radiation therapy.

• diarrhea 
• fatigue 
• hair loss