Patients' perspectives on radiation in health care.

As radiation therapy is needed by approximately 50% of patients with cancer there needs to be ongoing research to ensure that radiation therapy targets the tumour effectively and minimises potential side effects. Major advances in radiation therapy, due to improvements in engineering and computing, have made it more precise, reducing side effects and improving cancer control. Patients need to be informed of its risks, both short and long term, to enable them to be active participants in their cancer treatment path.