Most types of cancer respond to radiation. Cancers that “shrink” rapidly are termed radio-sensitive; others that don’t respond are called radio-resistant.

Even radio-resistant tumors can respond if additional therapy is delivered at a higher dose. Not surprisingly, radio-sensitive tumors can be cured with radiation. These include cancers of the prostate, breast, cervix, vocal cords, tonsil, mouth, thyroid, rectum/anus, and skin (except malignant melanoma). Other, less sensitive, tumors can be treated with radiation for palliation – decreasing the size of the tumor, reducing pain, controlling bleeding – and can prolong lives or improve the quality of life for patients with tumors considered incurable. 

• Colon cancer

• Lung cancer

• Prostate cancer

• Hodgkin’s disease

• Lymphomas

• Multiple myeloma

• Melanoma

• Skin cancer

• Head and neck cancers

• Esophageal cancer

• Cancer of pancreas

• Colon and rectal cancer

• Anal cancer

• Kidney cancer

• Bladder cancer

• Testis cancer

• Prostate cancer

• Breast cancer

• Ovarian cancer

• Gynecological cancers

• Brain tumors

• Thyroid cancer