Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy is a targeted medical treatment that employs high-energy beams or particles, such as X-rays or protons, to destroy cancer cells and shrink tumors while sparing surrounding healthy tissue. In contemporary oncology, it's often customized with advanced imaging techniques for precision, but it can lead to side effects like fatigue or skin changes, making patient monitoring essential for optimal results.
Did you know?
Radiation therapy was first used clinically in 1899 to treat a skin cancer patient just four years after X-rays were discovered, marking one of the earliest applications of physics in medicine. Today, it's estimated that about 40% of cancer cures in the U.S. involve radiation therapy, showcasing its evolution from experimental to a cornerstone of modern oncology.
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