A Review of Post-Radiotherapy Complications Necessitating an Urgency for Further Advances and Innovations in Radiotherapy

The initial discovery of X-rays by Roentgen in 1895 and the use of brachytherapy after Marie and Pierre Curie discovered radium in 1898 stimulated a revolution of conceptual and technological innovations throughout the 20th century, forming the basis of the safe and effective therapies used even today. Today radiotherapy has become a standard treatment option for a wide range of cancers. But the rapid increase and enthusiasm for radium ultimately lead to its overuse. This paper offers an overview of post- radiotherapy complications to implicate the urgency for further advances and innovations in radiotherapy.