This means that this type of radiation can often be used to deliver more radiation to the tumor while limiting its effects on normal tissues in front of and behind the tumor. Particle beams can travel deep into the body like photon beams, but their energy only is released at a certain distance. The radiation is released from the machine as a stream of high-energy particles. Particle beam radiation therapy: Particle beams are made up of separate units of energy, such as protons or neutrons. The photon beams are invisible and cannot be felt when they are passing through the skin to reach the cancer. Photons are given by a machine called a linear accelerator. Photon beams can travel deep into the body to reach the tumor, but they can also damage healthy tissue in front of and behind the tumor. The radiation is released from the machine as a wave of energy. Photon beam radiation therapy: Photon beams are the same type of radiation that is used during an x-ray (like a chest x-ray), but the beams are much stronger. Types of beams used in external radiation therapy Your cancer care team will speak with you about how much radiation is needed to treat your cancer and how often you need to get it. But some people might get radiation on a different schedule, such as twice a day for a fewer number of weeks. Usually, they visit the treatment center every weekday (Monday through Friday) for a certain number of weeks. Most people get external radiation therapy over many weeks. The machines focus the radiation beam on the exact location in such a way to maximize the radiation reaching the cancer, but also to affect normal tissues as little as possible.Įxternal radiation is usually done during outpatient visits to a hospital or treatment center. Radiation technology allows the very careful delivery of external beam radiation therapy. External beam radiation is given most often as photon (x-ray) beams and less often as particle (proton, neutron) or electron beams (see below). A machine is used to aim high-energy rays or particles from outside the body at the tumor. External radiation (or external beam radiation) is the most common type of radiation therapy used for cancer treatment.
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