Radiation Therapy for Rare Cancers: New Hope and Insights

Radiation has long been used for cancer treatment, but traditional methods have often resulted in damaged tissue and other lingering side effects. Luckily, recent advancements in cancer therapy have created faster and less damaging forms of radiation therapy. Some of these advances include Radiopharmaceuticals, Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT), FLASH Radiotherapy, and MR-Guided Radiation Therapy (MR-linac).

According to the National Cancer Institute, about 2 million new diagnoses in the United States occurred in 2025, with breast cancer being the most common one overall and prostate cancer the most common form in men. However, more targeted forms of radiation therapy that may only take seconds are giving patients more hope in survival and reduced recurrences. 

How Does Radiation Therapy Work?

The basics of radiation involve using high doses of radiation to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. When you get an X-ray, a low dose of radiation is required to see inside your body. This therapy option can provide treatment across multiple cancer diagnoses, and basic categories include external radiation, internal radiation, and radioactive drugs.

External Radiation: This common option uses a machine outside the body to direct high-energy beams at a target tumor. It is the most common form of radiation treatment and often takes place over several weeks.

Internal Radiation: Radioactive material is directly placed into or near a tumor inside the body. As a result, it can allow for a high dose of radiation in a very small targeted area. It is beneficial as it can help spare surrounding healthy tissue.

Radioactive drugs: These are also known as radioisotopes, and can be swallowed or injected into the bloodstream. Once ingested, they can travel throughout the body to locate and destroy cancer cells. An example is radioactive iodine, often used for thyroid cancer.

What Are Recent Breakthroughs in Radiation Oncology?

Some rare cancer treatment options may be in the form of a radiation blast, only lasting a second. Others may be defeated through radioisotope injections that target cancerous receptors, and accelerated proton energy use may be in the future.

Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT)

This treatment can deliver a highly concentrated dose of targeted radiation to a single tumor, particularly small, clearly delineated ones. According to Yale Medicine, lung, early lung, and lung metastasis cancers are common targeted sites. 

SBRT can deliver the optimum amount of radiation needed over a period of days instead of weeks, so fewer sessions are needed. Because it's highly targeted, nearby healthy tissue and organs are better protected. 

PHASER (Pluridirectional High-Energy Agile Scanning Electron Radiotherapy)

Technology developed for high-energy physics may play a major role in faster and more precise radiation therapy as SLAC and Standard researchers collaborate. The idea behind this technology is to blast cancer cells with proton energy fast enough before nearby organs and other tissues can move during the exposure. 

As a result, the radiation dose of an entire therapy session can quickly be delivered in a single flash lasting less than a second. 

Radiopharmaceuticals and Targeted Therapy

This therapy uses a radioactive isotope focused on a targeted molecule that allows it to bind to cancerous receptors and antigens. So far, Pluvicto has been FDA-approved and effective at treating metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), according to Crown Bioscience. Additionally, Radium Ra-223 (Xofigo) is being used for bone metastases.

FLASH Radiotherapy

According to an APS Journals study by Vozenin et al. in 2024, this therapy can deliver ultrahigh doses at more than 1000 times faster than irradiation at conventional dose rates. It also concluded that this method produced far less toxicity in nearby healthy skin than conventional dosage methods.

MR-Guided Radiation Therapy (MR-linac)

Known as comprehensive motion management, this cancer-fighting technology can automatically turn the radiation beam on and off during treatment to account for any movement of the tumor, which can happen when a patient is breathing.

As Dr.Seth Kaufman told Bay State Health in 2025, "The beauty of the LINAC is that it lets us adjust the radiation dose based on the size, shape, and location of the cancer... It's pre-programmed to adjust the shape of the beam as it moves through its positions to minimize damage to healthy cells and tissue." 

Frequently Asked Questions

How Long Does it Take to Recover from Radiation Therapy?

There can be short-term and long-term effects related to radiology therapy. Lethargy and skin issues may start to improve a few weeks after the last treatment. However, there may be lingering symptoms such as taste changes and dry mouth that may last much longer. 

How long the effect lasts depends on the treated body part, the radiation dose, and whether it was combined with other treatments. Some skin reactions may include dryness, redness, and soreness after the first couple of weeks of treatment. The treated area may also cause hair loss after a few weeks, and it may regrow, but with a texture and color change.

A loss of taste may persist for months or even years.

What Stage of Life Is Most Sensitive to Radiation?

A fetus is the most susceptible to radiation. However, it can also greatly affect other infants and children, older adults, pregnant women, and anyone with a compromised immune system.

What Kind of Doctor Performs Radiation?

Radiation oncologists are the specialists who carefully target and regulate doses of high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells. They work closely with medical oncologists, other doctors, and surgeons to coordinate the appropriate treatment for a patient.

The field requires a medical degree, MD or DO, followed by a one-year internship and a four-year residency that specializes in radiation oncology.

More Innovative Cancer Therapies Include Radiology 

Radiation therapy is a big part of emerging cancer treatment and ongoing research. The often lingering side effects of radiation can be reduced with better targeted tools. Thanks to faster and more precise options from radioactive medication that targets specific cancerous receptors to energy zaps that may last for a second, the future of cancer treatment may be brighter, giving hope and better survival rates to millions of people who deal with this disease every year.

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