Cancer happens to be one condition that is looked at with a lot fear. However, not many know but there are a number of misunderstandings regarding the detection and treatment of this dreaded condition. The ailment is worrisome and life threatening. However, people should never look away from various treatments available for cancer.

According to statistics, 50% people who develop cancer happen to undergo some kind off a radiation therapy during the course of their treatment. The approach basically revolves around making use of high-energy radiation like X-rays to kill cancer cells.

The treatment is provided by either a machine that delvers' therapies from the outside or by placing radioactive materials near the tumor inside the body.

Talking about radiation therapy, Section Chief of Radiation Oncology, Dr. Kathleen H. Baldivia, informed that radiation therapy happens to kill cancer cells by inflicting damage to their DNA. Apart from that, radiation also causes damage indirectly to cancerous cells by creating free radicals within the tissue that damage cellular DNA and preventing the replication of cancer cells.

The target of radiation therapy is to destroy all types of cancer cells that cannot be repaired and hence stop their division and replication. Once this happens, cancer cells are eliminated by our body's own system.