What is the primary method used to destroy cancerous tissues through high-energy waves?

Radiation therapy is the primary method that employs high-energy waves, such as X-rays or gamma rays, to damage the DNA of cancer cells. This damage inhibits their ability to grow and divide, ultimately leading to cell death. Radiation therapy can be delivered externally via a machine or internally through radioactive materials placed close to or within the tumor. The precision and power of high-energy waves make radiation therapy effective for targeting localized tumors, minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue when carefully planned and executed.

In contrast to radiation therapy, chemotherapy involves the use of drugs to kill rapidly dividing cells throughout the body, which can affect both cancerous and healthy tissues. Targeted therapy uses drugs or other substances to precisely identify and attack cancer cells, often by targeting specific molecules involved in the growth and spread of cancer. Hormone therapy focuses on blocking hormones that fuel the growth of certain cancers, rather than using high-energy waves to destroy cells. Thus, the nature of radiation therapy specifically aligns with the question regarding the destruction of cancerous tissues through high-energy waves.