Understanding Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy, sometimes called radiotherapy, is the careful use of radiation to safely and effectively treat cancer.

• Cancer doctors called radiation oncologists use radiation therapy to try to cure cancer, to control cancer growth or to relieve symptoms, such as pain.

• Radiation therapy works within cancer cells by damaging their ability to multiply. When these cells die, the body naturally eliminates them.

• Healthy cells are also affected by radiation, but they are able to repair themselves in a way cancer cells cannot.

After a diagnosis of colorectal cancer has been established, it's important to talk about your treatment options with a radiation oncologist.