Mayo Clinic Minute – Breaking through radiation therapy myths

People who have cancer might have the disease treated with several therapies, including chemotherapy and radiation. Radiation therapy, which more than half of all people with cancer receive as part of their treatment, uses high-powered energy beams, such as X-rays or protons, to kill cancer cells.

Some patients may be nervous about receiving radiation therapy.

In this Mayo Clinic Minute, Dr. Jennifer L. Peterson, a radiation oncologist, helps clear up some of the misconceptions about what often is an important part of a person’s cancer treatment.