Radiation Therapy

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy delivers radiation to the site of the tumor. That may be done in addition to surgery or without surgery. When it is done in addition to surgery, it may be done before surgery or after surgery. Radiation before surgery is called neo-adjuvant radiotherapy. Its goal is to shrink the tumor and to allow its complete removal, which might not be otherwise possible without radiation. Radiation after surgery is called adjuvant radiotherapy. Its goal is to decrease the risk of recurrence of the cancer or to treat residual cancer if it was not possible to remove it completely during surgery. When the patient is determined not to be a surgical candidate for various reasons, radiation may be given in addition to chemotherapy as a form of palliative treatment to slow down the progression of the cancer.