Frequently Asked Questions Please do not hesitate to ask any questions at any time. Listed below are answers to some of the more frequently asked questions. 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 discuss the specific side effects with you. No, you are not radioactive and you will not be a danger to anyone during or after your course of radiation therapy. 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.