Radiation Therapy
RADIATION DELIVERY
External Beam Therapy
This is the most common delivery system for radiation. The linear accelerator is a treatment machine, which generates ionizing radiation by accelerating electrons along a tube. In this form of radiation, the patient is positioned on a treatment couch and through a sophisticated system of planning; the radiation beam is directed to the tumor site. The total dose of radiation required is achieved through equal daily fractions of radiation, usually given one a day, 5 days per week, until the total dose is reached. Patients receiving this form of radiation are not radioactive.