Principles of cancer treatment by radiotherapy

Radiotherapy (or radiation therapy) uses ionizing to selectively kill cancer cells, especially for solid tumours. Like surgery, it is meant be a ‘local’ treatment, although its beneficial systemic effects are being discovered. It most commonly used in addition surgery (adjuvant, e.g. breast), but role the neoadjuvant setting combination with chemotherapy some cancers (e.g. rectum) also established. In early stages of cancer, can definitive avoiding and enabling organ preservation larynx), while late stages, provide excellent palliation bone metastasis). delivered at various energy levels (kiloVolts, megaVolts), subatomic particles electrons, protons, high-energy electromagnetic radiation). The traditional bulky equipment linear accelerator) needs housed an underground bunker complex imaging improve precision avoid normal tissues. Fractionated regimens spanning several days reduce individual doses. Modern techniques using mobile devices TARGIT-IORT) deliver radiotherapy during highest immediacy.