Eli5 How does radiation therapy actually work? Like how doesnt it break down more of the body and make the cancer worse or something like that? And does it target only cancer area or everything?

Question

Eli5 How does radiation therapy actually work? Like how doesnt it break down more of the body and make the cancer worse or something like that? And does it target only cancer area or everything?

In: 630

Answer 1

Radiation damages everything. Cancer cells can’t heal themselves and die, healthy tissue can repair and does. We put alot of effort in to minimalising the healthy tissue that gets irradiated. My place does sub millimeter accuracy in its treatments.