More than half of cancer patients will receive radiation therapy, but what is it? Does it hurt? And what are the side effects?

We spoke with Cullen Taniguchi, M.D., Ph.D., to answer some common questions about radiation therapy. Here’s what he had to share.

How does radiation therapy work?

Radiation therapy uses high-energy waves, like those used with an X-ray, but at a higher energy that damages tumor cells’ DNA....