Radiation Oncology

Radiation Oncology is the branch of medicine that treats cancer using high-energy radiation to destroy or shrink tumors. It covers external beam radiation therapy as well as internal radiation techniques, and is used either as the primary treatment for certain cancers or alongside surgery and medical treatment for others.

This branch differs from Medical Oncology mainly in the type of treatment used: Medical Oncology treats cancer through chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and other drug-based approaches, while Radiation Oncology relies on precisely directed radiation to target cancer cells while limiting exposure to surrounding healthy tissue. Many patients receive care from both branches as part of a single, coordinated treatment plan.

As with medical oncology, some cancers treated in this branch are linked to viral infections, such as cervical or oropharyngeal cancers associated with HPV. Treatment is typically planned using detailed imaging to map the tumor’s exact location and size, and is delivered over a series of sessions rather than a single visit, allowing the total radiation dose to be spread out to protect healthy tissue.