External Beam Radiation
Imbued in today's pop culture is an image of radiation that hails from the 1950's sci-fi flicks - that of devastation, mutation and human demise. This impression is further augmented by real-life radiation contamination, such as Chernobyl, Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

So, it is often with great surprise to many that radiation, with all it's destructive qualities, can also be harnessed into beneficial therapies for cancer patients.

This is achieved through precise delivery of enough radiation to cause damage to the DNA of cancerous cells. This results in the arrested growth or death of the cancer cells.
External beam is the longest existing form of radiation treatment. It has been in use since the late 1800's, when it was first administered to breast patients. The application of the radiation was rudimentary, and results in these early years were sketchy.

With the advent of computerization, the last twenty-five years have seen vast improvements in the delivery and precise control of radiation doses. This has opened the door to successful treatment.

External beam radiation may be used as the sole form of treatment a patient will receive, or in conjunction with other treatments, such as surgery or chemotherapy.

Unlike chemotherapy, which affects the entire body, radiation therapy is very localized - treatment is given to a specific area. The goal is to protect as much healthy tissue as possible.

Delivered through the use of a linear accelerator, radiation treatments are often given five days a week, over the course of five to eight weeks. Weekends provide normal cells the "time off" to recover. The process itself is painless, with minimal side effects, and allows the patients to pursue their regular daily activities.

In addition to definitive care, which strives to achieve cure, radiation may be used for palliative care. Palliative care focuses on the relief of cancer symptoms and pain.