Introduction
Radiation therapy utilizes a high-energy beam of radiation to eradicate cancer cells and stop them from growing and dividing. Radiation therapy is considered a local treatment, and the treatment techniques involved are designed to affect only the cancerous cells in the treated area, while healthy cells are protected by specifically shaping the radiation beam. This precision is accomplished through intricate computerized treatment planning by the radiation oncology team, which identifies the target area from computed tomography scans and/or other imaging modalities. Once the target area of treatment has been determined and a treatment plan has been calculated, prescribed radiation beams or internally-placed radioactive agents (brachytherapy) are directed at the determined target site and doses are calculated to meet the prescription. As the X-rays interact with human tissue, they create ionizations within the cells that can ultimately shrink and eliminate cancerous tumors. The radiation oncology team consists of the radiation oncologist, medical physicist, medical dosimetrist, radiation therapist, and other nursing and support personnel.
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