Radiation therapy: 5 key insights every patient should know

Radiation therapy is one of the strongest methods we have for fighting cancer. According to Mayo Clinic, more than half of cancer patients receive it during their treatment. Each plan is custom-designed just for that patient, based on their unique condition and type of cancer. As imaging technology improves, doctors can now see tumors more clearly than ever, making it possible to create treatment plans even more precise and personal.

Here are the Top 5 Takeaways from my presentation, “Understanding Radiation Oncology: A Community Guide to Cancer Treatment.”

1. Radiation oncology has a long history: Doctors first used X-rays to treat cancer in 1896. Today’s advanced methods are beyond anything those medical pioneers could have imagined.
2. The main way to deliver radiation is externally with a linear accelerator: Although radiation can be placed inside patients, the vast majority of radiation is delivered through external beam radiation.
3. Radiation therapy is reliable and effective: More than a century of research has refined how radiation therapy works, improving treatment and reducing side effects.
4. Side effects are different for everyone: Side effects vary because each treatment plan is personalized. Doctors can help patients anticipate which effects are most likely and provide strategies to manage them effectively.
5. Artificial intelligence and machine learning could shape the future: These tools can sift through massive amounts of data, spot patterns and help predict patient outcomes.

Watch Dr. Park’s presentation. 

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John Park, MD

Dr. Park is the medical director of NKC Health Radiation Oncology and is board-certified by the American Board of Radiology.

Dr. Park earned his medical degree from the University of Kansas School of Medicine. He completed a radiation oncology residency at the University of Kansas Medical Center.

As a physician with the Veterans Administration, Dr. Park was the first author on guidelines for quality measures that were adopted nationwide.