Radiation therapy is the use of penetrating beams of high-energy
waves or streams of particles called radiation to treat disease.
Radiation has been used to treat cancer since the late 19th
century. In fact, the first successful radiation treatment for
cancer was reported in 1898. In its earliest state, radiation
was given in single, large doses, which caused many
complications. By 1940, doctors had begun dividing the total
dose of radiation into several smaller doses. This process is
known as fractionation of the dose. Fractionation is very
important because it allows the oncologist to destroy tumor
cells, while allowing normal tissues to repair the radiation
damage. In the last 50 years, technology has allowed for great
advances in radiation therapy, including deeper penetration of
the radiation and less scatter to healthy tissues. Currently,
there exists a delicate balance between using radiation to treat
cancer cells and minimizing its adverse side effects on the
body's normal cells. - How does radiation