Radiation therapy is a treatment option for some forms of cancer, using x-rays, gamma rays and other high energy rays to destroy cancer cells. The goal might be to cure the cancer or relieve symptoms of the cancer.

Radiation Oncologists are specialized physicians who oversee the care of each patient receiving radiation therapy. These physicians prescribe personalized treatment plans and closely monitor care and progress throughout the course of radiation treatment.

Patients will be referred by other specialists before seeing a Radiation Oncologist. Radiation oncologists work jointly with other specialists to determine the best treatment options, including treatments using multiple modalities. For example, a surgeon might remove a tumor and follow-up with radiation therapy to destroy remaining cancer cells. Some patients receive chemotherapy (by a medical oncologist) in addition to radiation therapy to best treat their disease.

Your radiation oncologist, along with registered radiation technologists, will carefully review your treatment plan with you. The first step is a simulation, a pre-treatment procedure done to locate the exact area to be treated. Therapists may create treatment aids (such as molds, headrests, skin marking) to ensure that all radiation treatment beams are aimed at precisely the correct spot. Lead blocks may be created to protect nearby normal tissue, thus focusing the beam on the tumor.

Radiation therapy is similar to having an x-ray taken, but in cancer treatment the dose of radiation is higher and given over a longer period of time. You can expect daily weekday radiation treatments over the course of several weeks. Your radiation oncologist will examine you and review your progress once a week. It takes time for the body to get rid of the dead cancer cells. It is often months after completing treatment before the tumor is completely gone.