What is the main objective of radiation therapy in cancer treatment?

The primary objective of radiation therapy in the treatment of cancer is to kill or damage cancer cells. Radiation therapy uses high doses of radiation to target and destroy the DNA of cancerous cells, which inhibits their ability to grow and divide. This therapeutic approach is effective because cancer cells often have a faster rate of division compared to normal cells, making them more vulnerable to the effects of radiation. By damaging the cancer cells, radiation therapy can shrink tumors, relieve symptoms, and improve overall survival rates for certain types of cancer.

In contrast to other options, enhancing nutritional intake is not a direct aim of radiation therapy. While maintaining nutrition is crucial for patient recovery, radiation itself does not address nutritional concerns. The idea of removing cancer cells instantly is misleading; treatment effects occur over time, as the damage to the cells leads to their eventual death. Finally, while radiation can sometimes shrink tumors sufficiently to make surgery unnecessary, it is not its main purpose; rather, radiation is often used as an adjunct to surgery, chemotherapy, or as a palliative measure. Thus, the focus of radiation therapy remains on directly targeting and destroying cancer cells.