What type of radiation therapy uses high-energy rays to treat cancer?

External beam radiation therapy is a method that utilizes high-energy rays, such as X-rays or gamma rays, to target and treat cancerous tissues from outside the body. This form of therapy is designed to deliver precise doses of radiation to tumors while minimizing exposure to the surrounding healthy tissue. The high-energy rays penetrate the body's surface and can destroy cancer cells by damaging their DNA, inhibiting their ability to divide and grow.

While internal radiation therapy refers to the placement of radioactive material within the body, and brachytherapy is a subtype of internal therapy that involves placing radioactive seeds or sources directly into or near the tumor, external beam radiation therapy is distinct in that it applies radiation externally. Proton therapy is another specific type of external beam radiation therapy that uses protons instead of X-rays, but the broader category encompassing high-energy rays is indeed external beam radiation therapy. Thus, this approach is a common and effective treatment modality for various cancers.