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Fundamentals of Radiation Therapy
A radiation therapy plays a significant role in the treatment of cancer, as a substantial number of cancer patients undergo some form of radiation treatment. The therapeutic procedure is based on the application of high-energy ionizing radiation, which can damage the genetic material (DNA) of cancer cells, thereby reducing their proliferation. The radiation not only targets cancer cells but unfortunately also affects healthy tissues, although these are generally less sensitive to radiation than cancer cells. As a result, the procedure has a selective effect, and treatments have continuously evolved over the past decades, becoming increasingly effective. Although the goal of radiation therapy is to achieve a definitive cure, in many…