It can cure some cancer; it also can be used to diminish cancer symptoms. Radiotherapy treatment can also lessen the possibility of cancer coming back subsequent to surgery
Radiation therapy kills cancer cells by damaging or destroying their DNA. It also could affect your regular cells in your body. Also, radiation therapy may not destroy or damage a cancer cell right away. They will either damage the cancer cell's DNA or create charged particles that will damage the DNA for them.
Linear accelerator
A linear accelerator (also called a LINAC) is a piece of equipment most commonly used for external beam radiation treatments for patients with cancer. The linear accelerator can also be used in Stereotactic Radiosurgery comparable to that attained using the gamma knife on targets within the brain. The linear accelerator is used to treat all parts, organs of the body. A LINAC uses electricity to form a stream of fast-moving subatomic particles. This creates high-energy radiation that may be used to treat cancer. These x-rays can destroy the cancer cells while sparing the surrounding normal tissue.
Gamma knife
This type of stereotactic radiotherapy does not in fact use a knife but very precisely targeted beams of gamma radiotherapy from hundreds of different angles. Only one session of radiotherapy, taking about four to five hours, is needed.
For this treatment you will have a specially-made metal frame attached to your head. Then several scans and x-rays are carried out to find the precise area where the treatment is needed. During the radiotherapy, you lie with your head in a large helmet, which has hundreds of holes in it to allow the radiation beams through.
Implants
Internal radiation therapy (brachytherapy) is radiation delivered from radiation source. The radioactive metal is called a source and placed inside or on the body for a period of time, depending on the type of cancer the source is removed after a few minutes or a few days. Within that time the patient needs to avoid close contact with people.