Radiation treatment is the use of high energy x-ray beams to kill tumor cells. It is planned and administered by radiation oncologists. It used for malignant soft tissue tumors and metastatic bone tumors. Radiation is sometimes used for benign, aggressive soft tissue tumors. Many metastatic bone tumors are treated with radiation alone.
The technology is continuously evolving and newer machines are able to target with more specificity the area of tissue to be treated while sparing normal tissues from unnecessary radiation. The calculation of the type of radiation, the doses and angles of treatment is very technical and complex.
The main side effects are superficial, self-limited burning of the overlying skin and fibrosis (scarring) of the treated tissues. When the axilla (arm-pit) or groin is included in the treatment, long-term swelling of the arm or leg is often a side-effect.
Rare complications can include bone fracture and even radiation-induced cancers.