Radiotherapy is one of the most powerful techniques to combat cancer cells in our bodies today. Because cancer cells spread quickly, the radiation kills them and prevents them from replicating. However, because cancer cells are tightly linked to important organs, radiation exposure to cancer cells also exposes healthy tissues. Because the long-term effects of even tiny doses of radiation over a longer period of time are yet unknown, it is common practise to provide radiotherapy to the elderly.
On the other hand, while radiotherapy is not the only technique to treat cancer, it is common practise for younger adults and children to explore alternative options first and then use radiotherapy as a last resort, due to the uncertainty about the long-term effects of radiation.
When it comes to radiotherapy, an accelerator is utilised to create $\gamma$ rays that are designed to destroy cancer cells; it is common practise to employ 60 Co $\gamma$ rays.
Rays are targeted from either side of the cancer cells or tumour to more efficiently target the cells in well-defined and precise malignancies. It is difficult to exclude healthy tissue even when this is computed with extreme precision. As a result, there is a chance that radiation will have a negative long-term effect.
Hence, radiation has an effect on healthy human tissue when it is used for radiotherapy. The long-term implications of this radiation dosage or cancer therapy are currently unclear.
