All questions · What each treatment is doing

Why am I getting radiation if my scans look normal?

A clear scan does not mean every cell has gone. A scan can only see cancer once there is enough of it to see.

Radiation is often given after surgery for exactly this reason, to deal with what is too small to show.

Written by two physicians. Checked against patient information from the US National Cancer Institute and Cancer Research UK.

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Content last updated 25 September 2026 · How we write these cards · Report a problem with this card

These cards are for learning. They are not medical advice and do not replace talking with your own doctor.