ELi5: What does medical radiation do to the body?

Question

I have breast cancer and I’m starting radiation tomorrow. I understand that it’s supposed to reduce the risk of reoccurrence and that it is destroying cells. But how? Which cells are affected? Why will it make me tired?

In: Biology

Answer 1

Here is a free app from the [Canadian Breast Cancer Network](https://www.cbcn.ca/en/health-storylines).

Also, and this might scare the crap out of you, sorry, but it can [affect your heart](https://cancer.ca/en/treatments/side-effects/heart-problems). From the Canadian Cancer Society. Depends on a lot of factors, of course, but forewarning can mean you are keeping your eye out for odd things.