FAQ Frequently Asked Questions You should not hesitate to ask any question at any time. A The purpose of radiation therapy is to kill cancer cells. Radiation affects all rapidly dividing cells, both normal and abnormal. Treatment is designed to maximize the radiation dose to tumor cells while minimizing harmful effects to normal tissue.
Normal cells have a greater ability to repair themselves than do cancer cells.
Because it is impossible to shield all normal tissue, some side effects may occur. Your doctor and nurse will go over the specific side effects with you. It is important for you to receive each scheduled radiation treatment. If for some reason you need to miss a scheduled appointment, you should notify your radiation therapist or nurse. On occasion, your radiation oncologist may need to order a rest from treatments to allow normal tissue to heal.