How does one irradiate a tumor?

WiMS/
TeMS
How does one irradiate a tumor?
Radioactive exposure is used as a part of cancer treatment and serves the purpose of
destroying the tumor. The course of the therapy is divided into several irradiation stages,
during which the radiation source can be repositioned each time. The source of radiation is
attached to an arm which can be circularly moved around the patient's body. The radioactive
rays are released evenly, in the shape of a cone (see image below). After several irradiation
stages the ray cones overlap and the body builds regions which received different doses of
radiation.
The doctor determines the position and the shape of the tumor by means of computerized
tomography. Additionally he determines the lowest dose with which the affected tissue is to
be irradiated in order to be effectively destroyed. However, it is not possible to prevent
exposure of the healthy tissue during the irradiation stages as well. How can one apply
irradiation treatment in such a way that the least possible amount of healthy tissue is affected?
How could one protect the vital organs which could not survive the exposure, or could only
survive one prescribed dose of it?
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