Radiation therapy is an effective treatment for many kinds of cancer.
The two main goals of radiation therapy are to cure the cancer or to relieve symptoms. It is often recommended as the primary treatment, but can also be used in combination with chemotherapy or surgery. Radiation can be used before surgery to shrink a tumor, and during or after surgery to kill any cancer cells that may still be present. Radiation used to relieve pressure, bleeding, or pain is referred to as palliative therapy. Radiation therapy is the use of a special kind of energy to kill cancer cells or to damage them so much that they can no longer grow and divide.