Radiation therapy is a way to treat cancer. External beam radiation comes from a machine outside of the body. Short bursts of x-rays are aimed at tumors inside the body.
Radiation may be used to treat problem areas if chemotherapy does not work. It may be used to:
Radiation can also be used to ease bone pain. But, it can also cause more damage to the bones and bone marrow. This treatment may not be helpful for everyone.
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Multiple myeloma. Merck Manual Professional Version website. Available at: https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/hematology-and-oncology/plasma-cell-disorders/multiple-myeloma. Updated May 2018. Accessed May 2, 2019.
Radiation therapy. Leukemia & Lymphoma Society website. Available at: https://www.lls.org/disease-information/myeloma/treatment/radiation-therapy. Accessed May 2, 2019.
Radiation therapy for multiple myeloma. American Cancer Society website. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/multiple-myeloma/treating/radiation.html. Updated February 28, 2018. Accessed May 2, 2019.
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Last reviewed March 2019 by EBSCO Medical Review Board
Mohei Abouzied, MD, FACP
Last Updated: 5/2/2019