It has been known since the 19th century that radiation will kill cancer cells. The challenge has been to use radiation effectively while doing minimum damage to healthy tissue. Advances in radiation therapy technology have rendered radiation a much more effective weapon in the battle against many cancers.

What is radiation oncology? (first question)

How does radiation kill cancer cells? (skip to 1:26)

How effective is radiation in treating cancer? (skip to 3:10)

What types of cancers are typically treated with radiation? (skip to 4:27)

How is the decision made to use radiation, chemotherapy or both in treating cancer? (skip to 5:22)

How has radiation therapy improved? (skip to 6:20)

What are the potential side effects to treating cancer with radiation? (skip to 9:53)

The U.T. Health Science Center at Tyler has a new linear accelerator which delivers radiation treatment to patients. How is it different from most linear accelerators? (skip to 13:08)

What does the future hold for radiation therapy in the treatment of cancer? (skip to 16:34)

As men get older, one of the most common health concerns is prostate health. Most men will experience symptoms of an enlarged prostate and increasing age brings about a corresponding increased risk for prostate cancer. The University of Texas Health Science Center’s Dr. Thomas Belt talks about prostate health in this post to HealthConnection.TV.

What is prostatitis and what are the symptoms? (first question)

Why can prostatitis be difficult to diagnose and treat? (skip to 1:29)

What is benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH, and how common is it? (skip to 2:15)

How is BPH treated? (skip to 3:22)

Why does the prostate gland in men seem prone to cancer? How common is prostate cancer? (skip to 4:22)

Are there early warning signs for prostate cancer? (skip to 4:53)

How is prostate cancer treated? (skip to 5:40)

Are there proactive steps that can be taken toward having a healthier prostate? Does nutrition play a role? (skip to 8:00)

What role does exercise play in keeping a healthy prostate? (skip to 9:58)