Medicina Nuclear e Radioterapia

Current Advancements and Future Directions in Cancer and Radiation Therapy

Abstract

Kuo Lee*

Cancer is a disease that is characterized by the uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells in the body. There are various treatments available to combat this disease, including chemotherapy, surgery and radiation therapy. Radiation therapy is a form of cancer treatment that uses high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells or prevent them from growing and dividing further. Radiation therapy works by damaging the DNA inside the cancer cells, which causes the cells to die or stop growing. Radiation therapy can be delivered externally or internally, depending on the type and location of the cancer. In external beam radiation therapy, a machine called a linear accelerator is used to deliver the radiation from outside the body. In internal radiation therapy, also known as brachytherapy, radioactive sources are placed inside the body near the cancer.